Kuala Lumpur: Malaysia’s palm oil exports in January 2025 slipped 12.94 per cent to 1.17 million tonnes from 1.34 million tonnes in December 2024, according to the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB).

According to BERNAMA News Agency, in its January 2025 industry performance report, MPOB stated that crude palm oil (CPO) production for the month decreased by 16.80 per cent, or 249,864 tonnes, to 1.24 million tonnes from 1.49 million tonnes in the previous month.

Palm kernel output experienced a drop of 13.57 per cent month-on-month to 290,883 tonnes in January from 336,558 tonnes in the preceding month. The production of crude palm kernel oil also saw a decline by 12.60 per cent to 137,158 tonnes from 156,926 tonnes in December, while palm kernel cake production fell by 12.16 per cent to 151,813 tonnes from 172,826 tonnes.

In terms of inventory, MPOB reported a decrease in CPO stocks by 11.78 per cent to 788,946 tonnes against 894,330 tonnes in December. Additionally, processed palm oil stockpiles were lower by 2.90 per cent to 790,817 tonnes in January 2025 from 814,426 tonnes in the preceding month, with total palm oil stocks narrowing by 7.55 per cent to 1.58 million tonnes from 1.71 million tonnes in December.

MPOB noted a significant drop in palm kernel oil exports by 40.85 per cent to 56,737 tonnes in January from 95,918 tonnes in December. Palm kernel cake exports slightly decreased by 0.09 per cent to 177,396 tonnes in January from 177,553 tonnes in the previous month.

However, there was a substantial increase in biodiesel exports, which surged by 121.89 per cent to 33,795 tonnes in January from 15,231 previously. Oleochemical exports in January were also higher at 232,567 tonnes, marking a 4.08 per cent increase from 223,447 tonnes in December.

MPOB reported zero CPO imports in January, while total palm kernel oil imports fell significantly by 72.04 per cent to 5,673 tonnes from 20,291 tonnes in the preceding month.