The Malaysian palm oil industry has entered a solid growth phase in March, fuelled by a massive surge in exports that pushes inventories to their lowest level in seven months. The country's palm oil stocks tumbled 16.1 per cent to 2.27 million tonnes in March from February, marking their lowest level since August, data from the Malaysian Palm Oil Board showed on Friday. Industry observers said this tightening supply, down for a third consecutive month, demonstrates the global

Malaysia’s palm oil-based biodiesel consumption is set to rise by more than 300,000 metric tons annually, the Malaysian Palm Oil Board said, as the country joins top producer Indonesia in raising blending mandates to reduce reliance on energy imports. On Tuesday, the Malaysian government said it would increase its 10% biodiesel mandate, known as B10, to a 15% biodiesel blend without giving a timeline. It will start with a 12% blend without incurring any additional production

Malaysia is in an extremely advantageous position as one of the world’s top palm oil exporters, continuing to supply edible oils to countries which are grappling with rising food prices and fertiliser supply disruptions due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Julian McGill, the managing director of UK-based economic advisory firm Glenauk Economics, attributed this to palm oil production being less affected by fertiliser supply disruptions due to the ongoing conflict in We

Economy Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir. BERNAMA FILE PIC The government is turning to biodiesel to reduce reliance on imported fuels, leveraging Malaysia's existing production capacity and infrastructure to cushion the impact of the global energy crisis. As such, the National Economic Action Council (MTEN) has moved to accelerate the increase of the national biodiesel blend from the B10 level to B15, beginning with a B12 formulation. Economy Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd

SD Guthrie Bhd, one of the world’s largest palm oil producers, on Tuesday warned that dry weather in Malaysia could curb its first-quarter production growth after a robust December quarter. Higher output in the December quarter pushed inventories in Malaysia, the world’s second-largest producer, to a near seven-year high at the end of 2025, weighing on prices. Slower production growth could help ease stockpiles and support benchmark Malaysian palm oil futures. SD Guthrie is p

The Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) is in discussions with ground vehicle operators and B20 biodiesel suppliers to blend B20 as part of efforts to expand its use at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA). The Ministry of Plantation and Commodities (KPK) said it also intends to extend the B20 initiative to ground service vehicles at other airports, such as the Senai International Airport in Johor. “The expansion of B20 use for ground service vehicles at these airports d

Malaysia’s plantation sector is expected to face a more challenging operating environment this year, with crude palm oil (CPO) prices likely to remain range-bound amid elevated stock levels and subdued export demand, despite relatively stable production prospects. Based on updates from the Malaysia Palm Oil Board (MPOB) at the Palm Oil Conference and Seminar (R&O 2026), MBSB Research expects CPO prices to average around RM4,200 per tonne this year, with prices likely trading

MALAYSIA’S future competitiveness and sustainability in palm oil increasingly hinge on the raising of yields, as stagnant production growth is beginning to constrain supply — a concern industry player have been flagging for decades. Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC) chairman Datuk Carl Bek-Nielsen says the industry has been talking about the need to lift yields for more than 30 years, yet progress has been limited and, in some cases, yields have even “regressed”. Setting “rea

Small- and mid-cap plantation companies that trade at steep 37 to 49 per cent discounts to average transacted estate prices could be prime privatisation targets, said Maybank Investment Bank Bhd (Maybank IB). NSTP/DANIAL SAAD Small- and mid-cap plantation companies that trade at steep 37 to 49 per cent discounts to average transacted estate prices could be prime privatisation targets, said Maybank Investment Bank Bhd (Maybank IB). This comes amid rising merger and acquisition