Malaysia's March Palm Oil Exports Up 5.4% On Month

KUALA LUMPUR (Dow Jones)--Malaysia's palm oil exports rose 5.4% on month in March to 1.22 million metric tons, cargo surveyor, SGS (Malaysia) Bhd., said Tuesday.

According to SGS, exports were 1.16 million tons in February, 1.33 million tons in January and 1.64 million tons in December.

Exports are unchanged on year. SGS had estimated last March's shipments at the same volume, though palm oil prices then were almost double of current levels.

The SGS estimate is above that of Intertek Agri Services, which pegged the figure at 1.16 million tons, down 0.5% on month.

The following are the major items of export, according to SGS:
(All figures are in metric tons)

March February
RBD Palm Olein 542,081 488,864
RBD Palm Oil 140,901 143,656
RBD Palm Stearin 118,739 115,318
Crude Palm Oil 190,260 221,590

Major importers of Malaysian palm oil:
European Union 216,778 147,818
China 331,932 359,670
U.S. 107,995 71,955
India 84,250 120,100
Pakistan 133,978 135,600