KUCHING: Sarawak continued as the country’s top producer of crude palm oil (CPO) in July 2022, with output of 345,165 tonnes.
Sarawak’s July CPO output was the highest monthly this year and exceeded June production of 329,638 tonnes by 15,527 tonnes or 4.7 per cent, according to the latest monthly data from Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) released yesterday. February was the lowest production month, with only 226,457 tonnes.
During the first seven months of 2022 (7M2022), Sarawak has produced about 2.07 million tonnes of CPO, which, however, was lower as compared to 2.116 million tonnes recorded in the same period in 2021.
Neighbouring Sabah was the second largest CPO producer last month, registering 318,172 tonnes, down from 325,634 tonnes in the previous month of June. In 7M2022, Sabah total CPO output was 2.217 million tonnes, also lower than 2.294 million tonnes in 7M2021.
The combined Sarawak-Sabah CPO production last month was 663,337 tonnes (June 2022: 655,272 tonnes) against the total production volume of 910,223 tonnes (889,831 tonnes) among states in Peninsular Malaysia. In July, Johor was the No 1 CPO producer in the peninsula, reporting 268,370 tonnes, followed by Pahang (264,121 tonnes) while Perak finished third (178,214 tonnes).
The MPOB figures showed that Malaysia’s total CPO production in July amounted to about 1.574 million tonnes, up from 1.545 million tonnes in June 2022, and the highest monthly this year.
In 7M2022, Malaysia produced about 9.84 million tonnes of CPO (7M2021:9.89 million tonnes). The breakdown figures were Peninsular Malaysia 5.55 million tonnes (5.48 million tonnes), Sarawak 2.07 million tonnes (2.116 million tonnes) and Sabah 2.217 million tonnes (2.294 million tonnes).
Last month, Malaysia exported 343,816 tonnes of CPO valued at about RM2.11 billion, a marked improvement from 223,497 tonnes worth RM1.5 billion in June 2022. The monthly highest export volume this year was recorded in May at 396,842 tonnes valued at RM2.698 billion. In 7M2022, the country exported RM12.12 billion worth of CPO (1,999,506 tonnes).
Month-on-month, Malaysia’s export volume of processed palm oil (PPO) grew slightly to 978,054 tonnes valued at about RM6.31 billion against 970,431 tonnes worth about RM6.8 billion in June due to higher prices. This brought total exports in the January-July 2022 period to 6.5 million tonnes valued at RM40.84 billion.
On CPO monthly closing inventory, the MPOB data stated that there was a sharp increase to 905,946 tonnes last month (the highest monthly level in 2022) from 881, 315 tonnes in June. The January-July 2022 monthly average CPO stocks for the country was 833,968 tonnes (2021: 739,220 tonnes).
In Sarawak, the July CPO stock rose sharply to 211,625 tonnes (June:155,547 tonnes), Sabah 226,181 tonnes (250,174 tonnes) and Peninsular Malaysia 468,140 tonnes (475,594 tonnes).
Month-on-month, the country’s processed palm oil stocks jumped to 866,848 tonnes from 764,516 tonnes.
On palm kernel production, Sarawak recorded output of 74,880 tonnes last month (June 2022: 72,308 tonnes) and was the No 1 producing state in Malaysia. Johor ranked second with output of 73,423 tonnes (70,622 tonnes), Sabah came in third with 68,230 tonnes (69,801 tonnes),followed by Pahang with 67,090 tonnes (64,458 tonnes). Nationwide, the palm kernel production volume climbed to 383,669 tonnes in July from 378,413 tonnes in June. Month-on-month, the country’s closing stock of palm kernel fell to 147,211 tonnes from 152,289 tonnes in June.
On palm kernel oil, Malaysia registered total production volume of 180,612 tonnes last month, which was higher than 175,731 tonnes in June. For Sarawak, the month-to-month output rose to 32,779 tonnes from 28,795 tonnes but Sabah output declined to 32,413 tonnes from 32,694 tonnes in June. In the peninsula, the palm kernel output was 115,420 tonnes in July, a slight increase from 114,242 tonnes in the previous month.
On palm kernel oil exports, Malaysia shipped out sharply lower volume of 74,689 tonnes valued at RM605.7 million, down from 92,130 tonnes (RM885.3 million) in June. The country’s July closing stock of crude palm kernel oil was 176,172 tonnes and processed palm kernel oil was 128,564 tonnes.
Sarawak produced 36,744 tonnes of palm kernel cake last month, a considerable increase from 32,316 tonnes in June. Selangor was the top producer last month with 47,777 tonnes, followed by Johor 43,566 tonnes. Total palm kernel cake production volume for the country was 204,485 tonnes against 200,096 tonnes in June. Month-on-month, Malaysia increased the exports of palm kernel cake to 171,122 tonnes (RM154.7 million) from 144,695 tonnes (RM140.9 million) in June.
On oleochemicals, the MPOB statistics showed that Malaysia earned about RM2.1 billion in exports last month, an increase from 211,881 tonnes valued at RM2.05 billion in June. In 7M2022, the country earned about RM14.6 billion from the exports of 1.6 million tonnes of oleochemicals.
On the other hand, the country exported less biodiesel of 14,401 tonnes (RM111.2 million) last month, down from 23,689 tonnes (RM170.3 million) in June. This brought the total biodiesel export volume in 7M2022 to 198,753 tonnes (RM1.34 billion).
In July, Malaysia’s total earnings from exports of oil palm products stood at RM12.267 billion, which was lower than 12,273 billion in June 2022.
