Sarawak records biggest CPO stock increase in Sept

KUCHING: Sarawak recorded the country’s largest increase in crude palm oil (CPO) stocks in September, with inventories surging 40.17 per cent to 553,662 tonnes from 394,993 tonnes in August, according to preliminary figures from the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB).

The increase of 158,669 tonnes exceeded Sabah’s rise of 144,923 tonnes, or 33.51 per cent, to 577,387 tonnes, and Peninsular Malaysia’s gain of 219,313 tonnes, or 26.98 per cent, to 1.03 million tonnes.

Nationwide, CPO stocks climbed 31.88 per cent, or 522,905 tonnes, to 2.16 million tonnes.

Sarawak recorded the smallest increase in processed palm oil stocks among the three regions, rising 4.68 per cent, or 9,915 tonnes, to 221,914 tonnes. Sabah’s inventory increased 15.54 per cent to 240,981 tonnes, while Peninsular Malaysia’s rose 16.7 per cent to 884,828 tonnes.

Malaysia’s total palm oil stocks surged 24.54 per cent, or 691,835 tonnes, to 3.51 million tonnes in September.

The stock accumulation coincided with higher CPO production across all regions. Sabah recorded the biggest monthly increase, with output rising 35 per cent, or 118,678 tonnes, to 457,760 tonnes.

Sarawak’s production increased 15.46 per cent, or 67,905 tonnes, to 507,087 tonnes, while output in Peninsular Malaysia grew 10.86 per cent to 1.15 million tonnes.

National CPO production rose 16.48 per cent, or 299,451 tonnes, to 2.12 million tonnes.

Palm kernel production also increased, climbing 18.16 per cent to 508,792 tonnes. Crude palm kernel oil output rose 4.91 per cent to 209,381 tonnes, while palm kernel cake production grew 7.81 per cent to 232,696 tonnes.

Inventories of palm kernel products recorded further increases. Palm kernel stocks jumped 43.41 per cent to 212,931 tonnes, while crude palm kernel oil stocks rose 13 per cent to 247,767 tonnes. Processed palm kernel oil inventories increased 24.62 per cent to 149,458 tonnes, bringing total palm kernel oil stocks up 17.11 per cent to 397,225 tonnes.

However, Malaysia’s palm oil exports fell 12.13 per cent to 1.12 million tonnes in September from 1.28 million tonnes in August. Palm kernel oil exports dropped 34.09 per cent to 74,364 tonnes, while palm kernel cake exports declined 3.99 per cent to 204,687 tonnes.

Biodiesel exports plunged 91.69 per cent to 2,930 tonnes. In contrast, oleochemical exports rose 2.62 per cent to 239,723 tonnes, while palm oil imports increased 17.24 per cent to 58,064 tonnes.