Malaysia's February palm oil exports, stocks hit lows
Malaysian palm oil exports fell to a three-year low in February, along with lower production and a drop in stocks to a seven-month low.
Palm oil exports fell by 25pc on the month to 1.02mn t in February, the lowest level since February 2021, according to the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB). Purchases from price-sensitive countries have fallen as the price discount for palm oil has narrowed compared with rival soft vegetable oils. Average crude palm oil prices delivered to Indian ports rose to $911/t cif in January from $883/t cif in December 2023, while crude soybean oil prices fell to $939/t cif from $976/t cif over the same period, according to the Solvent Extractors' Association of India.
Malaysian palm oil inventories also dropped by 5pc on the month to a seven-month low of 1.92mn t in February, falling below the 2mn t threshold for the first time since July 2023, MPOB data show. Market participants look to Malaysia's monthly palm oil stock levels as a gauge for price direction. Malaysia is the world's second-biggest palm oil producer.
A drop in production contributed to the export and stock declines. Crude palm oil (CPO) production fell by 10pc on the month to 1.26mn t in February, although output was stable from a year earlier. The month-on-month decline was mainly driven by lower production in the east Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak, which are the country's largest palm oil producers. Output fell by nearly 15pc each in Sabah and Sarawak from January to 291,000t and 276,000t respectively.
Palm kernel production fell by 12pc on the month to 302,000t in February, while output of crude palm kernel oil fell by 14pc to 139,000t, the MPOB said.
Tight palm oil supplies will likely support palm oil prices at relatively high levels over the next three months, analysts forecast last week.
Malaysian exports of biodiesel also fell by 28pc on the month to 29,400t in February. Outbound trade of oleochemicals rose to 255,000t, 1pc higher from January, but palm kernel oil exports fell by 19pc on the month to 55,600t in February.
Related news posts
Japanese ethylene producers unite for decarbonization
Japanese ethylene producers unite for decarbonization
Tokyo, 8 May (Argus) — Japanese petrochemical producers Mitsui Chemicals, Mitsubishi Chemical and Asahi Kasei have agreed to co-operate on decarbonization of their ethylene crackers in west Japan, targeting to decide a pathway within the current April 2024-March 2025 fiscal year. They plan to accelerate carbon neutrality at Mitsubishi Chemical and Asahi Kasei's 496,000 t/yr Mizushima cracker in Okayama prefecture and Mitsui Chemicals' 455,000 t/yr Osaka cracker in Osaka prefecture. The partners aim to introduce biomass feedstocks such as biomass-based naphtha and bioethanol and low-carbon cracking fuels like ammonia, hydrogen and electricity. They said joining forces will enable them to accelerate reducing greenhouse gas emissions, although they have not yet decided any further details. Mitsui Chemicals has experience in using bio-naphtha and recycled pyrolysis oil at its Osaka cracker. Japanese petrochemical producers have increasingly united to achieve decarbonization of their production processes, which account for around 10pc of the Japanese industrial sector's carbon dioxide emissions, according to the trade and industry ministry. Mitsui Chemicals, Sumitomo Chemical and Maruzen Petrochemical agreed to study the feasibility of chemical recycling and using bio-feedstocks at the Keiyo industrial complex in Chiba. By Nanami Oki Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Sustainability key for Australian beef trade: Beef2024
Sustainability key for Australian beef trade: Beef2024
Dalby, 8 May (Argus) — Production sustainability credentials are becoming increasingly important for Australian beef producers to secure export market access and source capital, industry panellists said at the Beef2024 event in Queensland this week. There is growing industry concern about the impact of the incoming EU deforestation regulation (EUDR) in December, which will require cattle exporters to provide evidence that the land used in production did not cause deforestation or forest degradation. Such regulations may present a barrier to access if applied without acknowledging local production systems, said Australian sustainability firm Organic Systems and Solutions chief executive Marg Will and private investment firm Macdoch's executive chairperson Alasdair Macleod. The EU represents a small fraction of Australia's beef exports, but Will and Macleod stressed that compliance with sustainability regulations will increasingly influence the cost of finance available to producers. But the Australian beef industry is making headway in achieving sustainability targets.There is continuing progress towards the five sustainability goals announced by the Red Meat Advisory Council in 2023, according to the Australian Beef Sustainability Framework (ABSF) annual update released on 8 May. All indicators of animal welfare and environmental stewardship goals were improving or steady, except for processor waste to landfill, according to the ASBF report. Approximately 81pc of producers were reported to be adopting practices to improve soil water retention in 2023, up from 46.9pc in the last report, although the data was compiled from a separate source. Australia's beef industry is aiming for carbon neutrality by 2030 and the sector reduced its net CO2 emissions by 78pc between 2005-21, mainly because of avoided land clearing and deforestation. By Edward Dunlop ABSF Annual Update - Select Goal Indicators % 2024 Report 2023 Report Best Animal Care Cattle properties covered by a documented biosecurity plan 75.6 86.0 Mortality rate of cattle exported on sea voyages 0.1 0.1 Environmental Stewardship Cattle producers adopting practices to improve soil water retention 81.0 46.9 Total CO2e reduced by beef industry from a 2005 baseline 78.2 64.1 Economic Resilience Value share of Australian beef exports covered by one or more preferential trade agreements 91.0 90.3 Source: ABSF Values based off varied reporting periods Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Doubts abound over US midcon E15 shift: NATSO
Doubts abound over US midcon E15 shift: NATSO
Houston, 7 May (Argus) — An effort by eight US midcontinent states to start selling 15pc ethanol (E15) gasoline blends year-round starting in 2025 remains unlikely, according to US fuel retailer trade association NATSO. The US approved last month the request from Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin for year-round E15 gasoline sales starting next year. But even with that approval there are many barriers to making those sales a reality, said David Fialkov vice president of government affairs for NATSO, which represents truck stops and travel center operators. This includes a lack of investment from pipelines and refiners to prepare for the changes, as well as the higher costs of separating and selling different gasoline specifications at the retail level. "I remain pessimistic that it will come to fruition," Fialkov said Tuesday at a conference held by fuel retail industry group SIGMA in Austin, Texas. Political pressure to delay or abate the change in the midcontinent states will probably continue until refiners, pipeline companies and retailers begin to make the investments necessary, said Fialkov. E15 has been available for sale across the US since 2019, but a federal court in 2021 found that the Clean Air Act offers a fuel volatility waiver to refiners to produce only 10pc ethanol gasoline. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has worked around this ruling for the last two summers by issuing temporary emergency orders allowing the sale of E15 because of the war in Ukraine's squeeze on crude prices. A group of midcontinent refiners has petitioned the EPA to delay implementation of the E15 rule until the summer of 2026. The EPA has not yet ruled on the request. Fialkov said a legislative solution to the issue at the federal level would provide a clear and uniform pathway to E15, as opposed to the the EPA's rule which leaves some states still relying on the waiver and others opting to go with year-round E15. By Zach Appel Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Brazil unlocks relief spending to flooded state
Brazil unlocks relief spending to flooded state
Sao Paulo, 6 May (Argus) — Brazil's president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva signed a decree to ease relief spending to Rio Grande do Sul state, which has been hit with historically heavy rainfall and floods. "We are going to do everything in our power to contribute to Rio Grande do Sul's recovery," he said today after signing the decree, adding that was only the first of "a large number of acts" for the state. The decree recognizes the state of emergency in Rio Grande do Sul and allows the federal government to grant funding and tax waivers to the state without having to comply with spending limits. In addition, it makes rules for public authorities to contract services and purchase products more flexible. The decree still needs both senate and congressional approval — which should be hasty, as both the senate and house leaders were present at the decree's signing. It is still not clear how much money it will take to rebuild the state, chief of staff Rui Costa and planning minister Simone Tebet said. But the minister of regional integration Waldez Goez estimated that it will take around R1bn ($200mn) to rebuild the state's highways. Rio Grande do Sul has been hit with heavy rainfall since 29 April. The highest volumes reached the central areas of Rio Grande do Sul, with cities receiving rainfall of 150-500mm (6-20 inches), regional rural agency Emater-RS data show. The monitoring station of Restinga Seca city, in the center of the state, recorded rainfall of about 540mm. Rainfall in Rio Grande do Sul overall surpassed 135mm in most of the state, according to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). State capital Porto Alegre is expected to receive more rain later this week, according to Rio Grande do Sul-based weather forecaster MetSul. MetSul warned that parts of the Porto Alegre metropolitan area could remain uninhabitable for weeks or months. The floods have left at least 83 dead and 111 missing, according to the state government. An additional 130,000 people have been displaced from their homes. By Lucas Parolin Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Business intelligence reports
Get concise, trustworthy and unbiased analysis of the latest trends and developments in oil and energy markets. These reports are specially created for decision makers who don’t have time to track markets day-by-day, minute-by-minute.
Learn more