THE Ministry of Plantation Industries and Commodities will be focusing on selling Malaysian palm oil to east and west Asian countries following high demand from those areas.

Deputy Minister Wee Jeck Seng said Saudi Arabia and Afghanistan have increased orders.

“Saudi Arabia imported 300,000 tonnes of Malaysian palm oil a year previously and has increased its purchase to 500,000 tonnes, while Afghanistan has doubled its purchase to 150,000 tonnes a year,” he told reporters during a visit to the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) research station near Kluang today.

Meanwhile, Wee reiterated his regret over Sri Lanka’s recent decision to follow the European Union (EU) not to buy Malaysian palm oil.

“Sri Lanka should have obtained more precise information regarding Malaysian palm oil and I don’t understand why this decision is made so hurriedly using the same reason as the EU.

“We have our own palm oil industry legislation, the Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO), which emphasises agriculture and good governance, thus producing quality products,” he said.

He said the country has filed its objection to the World Trade Organisation and is now awaiting its decision, while actively seeking new markets.

He added that Sri Lanka previously imported 200,000 tonnes of Malaysian palm oil annually. – Bernama, April 12, 2021.