Malaysian Planters Shall Worried..!!

Why Indons replaced M'sia as top palm oil producer?

INDONESIA’S taking over Malaysia as the world’s largest crude palm oil (CPO) producer in 2006 had often been associated with the mammoth size of the oil palm planted areas.

In fact, many however failed to comprehend that it was the much increased CPO production in the ensuing years – mainly in terms of higher fresh fruit bunches yield and oil extraction rates – that significantly set Indonesia far ahead from Malaysia’s continued stagnanting CPO production. This year CPO production in Indonesia is targeted to hit 21.5 million tonnes versus Malaysia’s 17.5 million tonnes.

Within five years, the former is also targeted to produce 27 million tonnes annually while Malaysia production is still expected to linger at 17 million to 18 million tonnes. While the glaring shift in the CPO production epicentre from Malaysia to Indonesia had resulted in changes in the supply equation, some market observers now fear that Malaysian plantation stocks could also stand to lose out on its attractiveness among international investors and fund managers.

Historically, the oil palm plantation sector in Indonesia had been the domain of state-owned companies. However, the early 1990s saw many private companies entering the industry, lured by attractive margins. Now it is said that 60% of the 7 million ha total planted area is owned by private companies, of which many have been seeking listing on the Stock Exchange of Singapore (SGX) and the Jakarta Stock Exchange (JSX).

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