Malaysian palm oil production to recover only by May next year

Malaysia’s palm oil production is only expected to recover after the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, or by May next year, leading analyst Dorab Mistry told a virtual conference on Thursday.

This is because it will take some time for the impact of relaxed rules allowing new workers in Malaysian plantations to be felt.

Mistry said that Malaysia’s palm production this year will likely stand at 18 million tonnes “at best”, and rise to 19 million tonnes next year.

Output by top producer Indonesia, meanwhile, is seen up by at least 1 million tonnes next year, Mistry said.

From now until February, Malaysian benchmark palm oil prices are expected to trade between RM5,000-5,400 per tonne. Prices should drop to between RM4,800-4,000 in the April-September period of next year, Mistry said.

The Edge

Tags: Malaysia, palm oil