Kuala Lumpur: Malaysia exported 54,665 tonnes of palm oil and palm-based products worth RM288.23 million to Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Turkmenistan in Central Asia in 2024, said Plantation and Commodities Deputy Minister Datuk Chan Foong Hin. He stated that the Plantation and Commodities Ministry, through the Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC), is committed to strengthening Malaysia’s role as a key supplier of palm oil to Central Asia while enhancing its market influence in Pakistan.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Central Asia is an important market for Malaysian palm oil exports. In recent years, the MPOC has undertaken various initiatives in the region to promote Malaysian palm oil. The comments were made during a session in the Dewan Rakyat in response to Datuk Mohd Isam Mohd Isa’s query about the ministry’s efforts to establish Malaysia as a leading player in palm oil supply in Central Asia and to regain its market share in Pakistan.
Chan highlighted that Pakistan is one of the top 10 importers of Malaysian palm oil, having imported 860,260 tonnes last year. The ministry is focusing on the demand for edible oil and leveraging Pakistan’s strategic location as a gateway to Central Asia. Discussions have been held with the Port Qasim Authority chairman on using Pakistan’s port infrastructure to facilitate Malaysian palm oil distribution to Central Asia, coinciding with Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani’s visit to Karachi, Pakistan, from January 9 to 11, 2025.
Malaysia’s exports are expected to account for 18 to 25 percent of Pakistan’s total palm oil imports, contingent on price dynamics and market conditions. In response to a question from Mohd Isam about reinstating the Smallholder Replanting Financing Scheme to full grants, Chan mentioned that the proposal has been presented to the Finance Ministry.
In addressing Nurul Amin Hamid’s inquiry about exploring palm oil innovation for energy production in Asia, particularly Japan, Chan stated that the ministry plans to participate in a global expo in Osaka, Japan, this year. The aim is to explore the use of palm biomass waste for electricity generation. Chan emphasized that while Japan is an attractive market for biomass waste for electricity, the focus should be on producing high-value materials, such as pelletising biomass, before export.