MALAYSIA has started exporting palm oil to Bermuda, the Philippines and African countries with the aim of boosting exports of the commodity, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.

Primary Industries Minister Teresa Kok said palm oil exports to Bermuda accounted for 159 tonnes, African countries (237 tonnes) and the Philippines (331,990 tonnes).

“Besides exploring new markets for palm oil, the government is targeting to have 100% of plantation companies in the country certified with the MSPO (Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil) by the end of next year,” she said in response to a question from Ahmad Maslan (BN-Pontian) in the winding-up debate on the 2019 Budget.

To a supplementary question from Anifah Aman (Independent-Kimanis), Kok denied that declining palm oil prices was due to poor bilateral ties between Malaysia and China.

“We’ve visited China to negotiate (further palm oil imports) and they’ve promised to buy at a reasonable price. On the other hand, Indonesia has lowered its prices as it has too much stock. We cannot stop Indonesia from doing so as it is a free market,” she said.

Kok said with the full MSPO certification, Malaysia could prove to the European Union that its palm oil plantations complied with guidelines it had set out, while aiming to increase productivity of the commodity industry in the long run so that smallholders and traders could stand on their own feet.

On initiatives to stabilise rubber prices and increase productivity, she said the government had allocated RM100 million for the use of the cuplump modified bitumen technology in the construction of roads at ports and industrial areas.

“In addition, planters and smallholders are encouraged to cultivate mixed cropping so that they would have an alternative revenue stream during the monsoon season.” – Bernama, November 27, 2018.