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Malaysia to roll out 20pc biofuels mandate in 2022

  • Spanish Market: Agriculture, Biofuels
  • 05/01/22

Malaysia will increase its on-road biodiesel blending mandate to 20pc (B20) in Sabah and peninsular Malaysia by the end of this year, delegates were told today at the annual Malaysian Palm Oil Council industry seminar.

Kuala Lumpur has already pushed back a nationwide rollout several times because of funding pressure from the Covid-19 pandemic and possibly as record-high crude palm oil (CPO) feedstock prices inflated the cost of subsidising the programme.

Bursa Malaysia-listed CPO futures dropped off towards the end of 2021 after the active third-month contract reached an all-time high of 5,081 ringgit/t ($1,210/t) on 20 October. But supply concerns among buyers following recent flooding across peninsular Malaysia drove an increase back over the 5,000 ringgit/t threshold by today's Singapore close.

The government is now working to upgrade infrastructure at 30-35 fuel depots before the B20 mandate can be launched, which will cost around 50mn ringgit in total.

Biodiesel blending for industrial applications remains at 7pc, with no date set yet for increasing the mandate to B10.

Malaysia has around 2mn-2.5mn t/yr of biodiesel capacity, with a full B20 mandate expected to consume roughly 1.1mn t/yr, leaving plenty of excess volumes for export. Malaysian palm methyl ester biodiesel exports dropped to 306,910t in 2021, the lowest volume in at least four years, according to cargo surveyor AmSpec.


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07/07/25

Multilateralism should steer climate finance: Brics

Multilateralism should steer climate finance: Brics

Sao Paulo, 7 July (Argus) — Developed countries must fully engage in climate finance to support developing countries trying to meet Paris agreement goals, top Brazilian officials said at the Brics summit held in Rio de Janeiro on 6-7 July. "One decade after the Paris agreement, [the world] lacks resources for a fair and planned transition," Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said. "Developing countries will be the most affected by losses and damages, while they are also the ones that have fewer ways to fund mitigation and adaptation," Lula da Silva said during his keynote address Monday. The Brics summit discussed climate finance in anticipation of the UN Cop 30 climate summit , which will be also be held Brazil, in November. The group issued a declaration that reinforced its commitment to uphold multilateralism as a solution for climate actions, while it also emphasized developed countries' responsibility towards developing countries to financially enable just transition pathways and sustainable development aligned with the Paris agreement. The Cop 29 summit in Baku, Azerbaijan, in November 2024 managed to reach an agreement to allocate $300bn/yr in resources for climate action. But delegates to the upcoming UN Cop 30 summit are targeting at least $1.3bn/yr in public and private funds to tackle climate change, focusing especially on countries that are already dealing with extreme weather conditions and lack financial resources to mitigate it. The Brics also announced a memorandum of understanding on the Brics Carbon Markets Partnership focused on capacity building and multinational cooperation to support climate strategies such as mitigation efforts and emergency resource mobilization. The declaration opposes unilateral protectionist measures, arguing that they "deliberately disrupt the global supply and production chains and distort competition." Climate justice, the fight against desertification, strengthened climate diplomacy and subsidies to environmental services were the main topics of discussion during the Brics summit, Brazil's environment minister Marina Silva said. Brazil will launch its own initiatives to promote climate finance in Cop 30. One program already launched is the Tropical Forest Forever Facility (TFFF) fund that aims to raise $125bn to preserve 1bn hectares of global tropical forests across 80 developing countries. Brics' development bank NDB will target 40pc of its investments to promote sustainable development, such as energy transition. The bank has approved $40bn in investments for clean energy, environment protection and water supply, it said last week. Brazil accounts for $6.4bn of total investments, gathering resources to 29 projects under climate actions, according to the institution. Brazil currently holds the presidency of the Brics, which also includes Russia, China, India and South Africa. Saudi Arabia, Egypt, UAE, Ethiopia, Indonesia and Iran are also members. Belarus, Bolivia, Kazakhstan, Thailand, Cuba, Uganda, Malaysia, Nigeria, Vietnam and Uzbekistan act as partner nations. Heated speech During his keynote address, Lula criticized the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as an institution that promotes unilateralism and stressed his support for reforming institutions of the UN to promote multilateralism and political equity for developing countries. He also mentioned that 65 of the biggest banks in the world committed to a $869bn investment to the fossil fuels sector last year. "Market incentives run contrary to sustainability," he said. By João Curi Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

NGOs pitch Amazon preservation funding to Cop 30


04/07/25
04/07/25

NGOs pitch Amazon preservation funding to Cop 30

Sao Paulo, 4 July (Argus) — Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Brazil's northern Amazon region set up a plan to draw investments to conservation, restoration and sustainable development in the biome. The plan — submitted to the UN Cop 30 climate summits presidency on 4 July — suggests redirecting subsidies from high-greenhouse gas emission activities to sustainable projects and promoting environmental services, as well as fighting against illegal economic practices such as animal trafficking and property speculation of public lands, according to the NGOs. The Amazon gathered around $5.8bn in investments between 2013-22, while it is worth at least $317bn/yr in ecosystem services, such as climate regulation — vital for agriculture and hydroelectric power generation — and biodiversity, according to the World Bank. The institution also estimated that $7bn would be necessary to preserve the biome against deforestation and ward it off from the tipping point, when it would suffer permanent damage like desertification and severe changes in the rainfall pattern. Main financial resources for the plan may come from the Tropical Forest Forever Facility (TFFF) initiative, which Brazil launched in 2023 to raise funds to protect tropical forests and combat deforestation, the NGOs said. Considering the program's annual raising of $5bn, the groups expect that $2bn of it will fund the Amazon forest preservation. Another proposal includes the creation of a Global Declaration for Amazon to engage countries enrolled in the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in contributing to strengthen the biome against climate change. Brazil will host UN Cop 30 climate summit in November, when it expects to deliver a roadmap to increase global climate finance to $1.3 trillion/yr. By João Curi Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

US to lay out tariff demands in coming days: Trump


04/07/25
04/07/25

US to lay out tariff demands in coming days: Trump

London, 4 July (Argus) — The US will lay out its tariff demands on foreign trade partners in the coming days, President Donald Trump said today. From tomorrow, 5 July, Trump will send letters to 10-12 countries a day, with the aim that all countries will be "fully covered" by 9 July, Trump said. That rate will not cover the amount of tariff deals still to be done by the US, which to date has struck three deals — of 10pc with the UK and China and of 20pc with Vietnam. "[The tariffs will] range in value from maybe 60pc or 70pc tariffs to 10pc and 20pc tariffs," Trump said. Countries will start paying them on 1 August, he said. Since 5 April Washington has been charging a 10pc extra tariff on imports — energy commodities and critical minerals are exceptions — from nearly every foreign trade partner, and those rates could go higher after 9 July. Trump has justified those tariffs by citing an economic emergency caused by allegedly unfair trade practices in foreign countries, and his administration is engaged in talks with foreign governments with the nominal goal of lowering their trade barriers. By Haik Gugarats and Ben Winkley Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Brazil real strongest to dollar since August


03/07/25
03/07/25

Brazil real strongest to dollar since August

Sao Paulo, 3 July (Argus) — The Brazilian real closed today at its strongest level since August, prompted by a weakening greenback globally. The real ended the trading session at R5.41 to the dollar at the end of the session, its strongest since 20 August, when it closed at R5.407. The Brazilian currency has strengthened by almost 5pc to the US dollar over the past 12 months, while it has been gaining ground on the greenback since late December of 2024. Brazil's central bank raised its target interest rate to the highest since July of 2006 to fight an "adverse and uncertain" global economic scenario. Back in May of this year, inflation slowed to an annual 5.32pc from 5.53pc in April, according to government statistics agency IBGE. The DXY dollar index, which tracks the greenback against six other major trading currencies, is near a three-year low, mainly on uncertainty over US president Donald Trump's shifting policies on tariffs and federal spending that have rattled financial markets. By João Curi Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Mexico factory contraction extends into June


03/07/25
03/07/25

Mexico factory contraction extends into June

Mexico City, 3 July (Argus) — Manufacturing activity in Mexico contracted for a 15th consecutive month in June, though at a slower pace, according to a purchasing managers' survey. The manufacturing purchasing managers' index (PMI) rose to 47.8 in June from 47.5 in May, marking the 15h consecutive month below the 50-point threshold between contraction and expansion, the finance executives' association IMEF said. The subindex for new orders increased by 0.8 points to 45.3 in June after recovering 2.7 points in May, marking a second month of slowing contraction from a post-pandemic low for the indicator in April. The production subindex in June held unchanged from May at 46.7, while the subindex for employment decreased 0.3 point in June to 44.4. New orders and production have now been in contraction for 15 consecutive months, and employment for 17. The inventories subindex rose 1.6 points in June to 53.1, following on a 5-point increase in May, marking a second month in expansion. The IMEF, which compiles the PMIs with statistics agency Inegi, said the manufacturing PMI in June "confirms that, despite some ups and downs, the manufacturing sector has lost strength and remains stuck in a contraction." It added sustained uncertainty around trade tensions continue to limit decision-making for business, and "internal growth drivers are beginning to show wear." Meanwhile, it added, trade tensions are now compounded by geopolitical tensions, with the outbreak of the Israel-Iran conflict. The non-manufacturing PMI — covering services, commerce and trade — decreased 1.1 points in June to 48.7 after nudging 0.3 points higher the previous month. This marked the seventh month in contraction, under 50. Within that index, new orders decreased by 0.3 points in June to 49.2 after rising 0.7 points in May. The production subindex decreased 2.0 points in June to 48 after rising 1.7 points in May, and employment fell by 1.6 points to 47.0 in June after decreasing 0.4 points the previous month. By James Young Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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