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Last Updated: 23 January 2024

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LETTERS: Though Malaysia has growth potential in the palm oil industry in terms of revenue generation, there is declining productivity due to shortage of labour, delayed application of fertiliser, climate change and increasing mechanisation.

While the government has a vision for the industry, the structure and research and development efforts are still scattered compared with Indonesia.

The New Energy Road Policy and Biomass Action Plan have articulated the government's initiatives to develop the biomass industry.

These plans underline the importance of establishing infrastructure, including transportation networks and storage facilities.

Experts recommend the implementation of a circular economy and the establishment of biomass hubs to boost the revenue stream in the palm oil industry.

A circular economy involves incorporating current practices and exploring alternative solutions to address challenges.

This approach could prompt the authorities to establish governance structures to capitalise on industry revenue, which is anticipated to be substantial.

Moreover, adopting a circular economy can enable the nation to generate high-value products for the top 12 value-added chemicals that have not yet been fully commercialised, apart from creating jobs.

The environmental safeguard measures were featured at COP28 (the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference) in November 2023 and Davos (54th Annual Meeting of World Economic Forum) this month.

The adoption of a circular economy in the palm oil industry will not only boost the economy but also reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Circular economy principles promote efficient resource use, reducing waste generation in the production process. This includes optimising land use for oil palm cultivation, minimising water usage and optimising fertiliser application.

Instead of disposing of by-products and waste materials, a circular economy encourages their reuse or conversion into resources.

For instance, palm oil mill effluent can be treated to extract biogas for energy production, reducing methane emissions.

Adopting integrated pest management practices reduces the reliance on chemical pesticides, mitigating environmental impact and improving ecosystem health.

Circular economy principles align with the transition to renewable energy sources.

In the palm oil industry, this involves adopting renewable energy technologies, such as solar, wind, and biomass, to power processing plants and reduce dependence on fossil fuels.

Circular economy principles emphasise the importance of consumer awareness and responsibility.

Informed consumers can drive demand for sustainably produced palm oil, influencing industry practices.

Nevertheless, we should be more than inspired as the projected revenue for 2024 for the oil palm industry is RM110 billion, indicating better times with the right action and execution of plans and policies.

https://www.nst.com.my/opinion/letters/2024/01/1003982/palm-oil-sector-must-adopt-circular-economy

Sumber : New Straits Times

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Last Updated: 23 January 2024

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PETALING JAYA: Oil palm smallholders are getting ready with preventive measures for the dry season anticipated after February, which may affect their yield.

Smallholder Paul Wong Yin Soon said there would be a dry season every year.

“We begin taking preventive measures in early January. I started doubling the fertilisation and irrigation this month.

“It usually takes one to two months for the oil palm trees to absorb the nutrients and moisture from the soil.

“So, after applying a large amount of fertiliser and irrigation now, we wait for one to two months for the oil palm trees to absorb.

“Even if a major drought occurs in March, the oil palm trees can still bloom and bear fruit,” he said in an interview.

He said that with sufficient fertilisation, the oil palm fruits could continue to yield good results.

The highest oil palm harvest is from April to November.

“After planting for six years, the oil palm fruits will be large and of good quality,” he said.

The Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) has anticipated a potential decrease of one to three million tonnes in Malaysia’s crude palm oil production next year, attributed to the El Nino weather pattern.

In 2022, the gross domestic product (GDP) contribution from palm oil in Malaysia was estimated to be at 2.4%, with palm oil being one of Malaysia’s primary industries, and its main agricultural export globally.

Malaysia is currently the world’s second largest palm oil producing country, with China among the top importers.

In a statement, the Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC) said the current El Nino phenomenon, though present, was not as severe as the one experienced in 2015, to affect oil palm yields.

Comparing it to the benchmark set in 2015, its chief executive officer Belvinder Kaur Sron suggested that the current El Nino was likely to conclude between April and June of this year, which aligned with the predictions made by MetMalaysia.

Belvinder said the latest data from the MPOC indicated an expected improvement in the El Nino condition in the coming months.

The onset of El Nino, she said, had even contributed to a boost in Malaysia’s palm oil production, resulting in an increase of 0.16 million tonnes in the last quarter of 2023.

“This marks the highest level of production since 2018, reaching 5.27 million tonnes compared to 5.11 million tonnes during the same period in 2022.

“This upward trend is projected to continue into the first quarter of 2024, with a 1% growth forecast for Malaysian palm oil production, reaching 18.75 million tonnes throughout the year,” she said.

Amid these favourable conditions, MPOC, she said, remained optimistic about the industry’s performance, signalling positive prospects for the Malaysian palm oil sector in the coming months.

https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2024/01/22/oil-palm-smallholders-all-set-for-dry-season

Sumber : The Star

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Last Updated: 23 January 2024

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Strong demand from China ahead of the upcoming Chinese New Year has driven crude palm oil prices.

KUALA LUMPUR: Bursa Malaysia extended last week’s gains to open higher today as investors took the cue from Wall Street’s positive performance last Friday.

Rakuten Trade equity research vice-president Thong Pak Leng said Wall Street ended higher last Friday as traders chose to focus on the positives — solid labour market and robust economy — ignoring the fact that the US Federal Reserve might prolong the prevailing high interest rates environment.

Locally, he said the FBM KLCI rebounded last Friday, following a correction from the 1,500 level a week before.

“For today, we believe the index will hover within the 1,485 and 1,495 range.

“Plantation stocks may be in focus today as crude palm oil has rallied to almost the RM4,000 per tonne mark due to demand from China for the forthcoming Chinese New Year,” he added.

At 9.05am, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) gained 2.86 points to 1,489.23, compared with Monday’s close of 1,486.37.

The barometer index opened 0.98 of-a-point better at 1,487.35.

Similarly, the broader market saw advancers outpacing losers 236 to 115, while 231 counters were unchanged, 1,681 untraded and 15 others suspended.

Turnover amounted to 223.65 million units worth RM107.03 million.

Among the heavyweights, Public Bank bagged one sen to RM4.36, CelcomDigi earned three sen to RM4.23, but IHH Healthcare eased three sen to RM5.97.

Maybank, CIMB, Tenaga, and Petronas Chemicals were flat at RM9.03, RM6.01, RM10.44 and RM6.78, respectively.

Of the actives, Widad picked up 1.5 sen to 12.5 sen, Sarawak Consolidated and Artroniq increased two sen each to 31 sen and 30.5 sen, respectively, while Leform was flat at 16 sen.

YNH Property, which hit limit down on Tuesday last week, continued to weaken to 59 sen after losing 26.5 sen or 30.99% this morning. A total of 62.05 million shares were transacted.

Meanwhile, Silver Ridge reached limit down after its shares tumbled 38.53% or 21 sen to 33.5 sen with 3.3 million shares changing hands.

On the index board, the FBM Emas Index rose 26.25 points to 11,091.41, the FBM 70 Index increased 39.52 points to 15,080.91, the FBMT 100 Index advanced 22.54 points to 10,756.83, the FBM Emas Shariah Index improved 22.26 points to 11,192.93, and the FBM ACE Index went up 12.52 points to 4,802.67.

Sector-wise, the Financial Services Index gained 12.77 points to 16,626.29, the Property Index put on 4.99 points to 895.96, the Plantation Index slipped 1.67 points to 7,164.76, the Energy Index added 2.61 points to 845.93 and the Industrial Products and Services Index was 0.52 of-a-point easier at 173.44.

https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/business/2024/01/22/palm-oil-near-rm4000-fuels-focus-on-plantation-stocks/

Sumber : Free Malaysia Today

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Last Updated: 05 February 2024

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In a statement, Doppa president Napoleon R Ningkos said the association is willing to help enable the expeditious surveying of their NCR land. — Picture by Mukhriz Hazim

MIRI, Jan 16 — Sarawak Dayak Oil Palm Planters Association (Doppa) members say they are willing to pay for Native Customary Rights (NCR) land surveys to expedite the state government’s efforts and enable the early issuance of perpetuity land titles.

In a statement, Doppa president Napoleon R Ningkos said the association is willing to help enable the expeditious surveying of their NCR land.

He proposed the Land and Survey Department allow government-registered private land surveyors to survey verified NCR land planted with oil palm or other cash crops.

"The costs and expenses of engaging these private registered land surveyors will be borne by the Doppa members,” he said.

Napoleon suggested this effort would complement the state government’s new NCR initiative with the amendment of Section 6 of the Land Code, 1958, a move welcomed by the association.

Under this amendment, NCR lands are identified upon receiving the community’s application and surveyed for gazettement under Section 6A.

The claiming native community then jointly applies for the issuance of titles to the said lands under Section 18 for native titled lands in perpetuity.

According to Doppa, surveying of NCR land under this new initiative via the Land and Survey Department may take a long time, involving manpower and logistics.

"Many of the applying communities have not received any reply to their applications,” he said.

He pointed out having titles for Doppa land is crucial for areas planted with oil palm or other cash crops, and it is a criteria required for bank financing purposes, Malaysian Palm Oil Board licences, Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil certification, and foreign worker approved in principle applications.

Doppa pointed out there is urgency for land titles due to the recent federal government announcement that oil palm replanting initiatives or grants may also require titles.

It added that several years ago, the Ministry of Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development had through its One-Stop Centre initiated a programme whereby Doppa members could apply through the ministry for NCR status verification of their planted lands.

However, Doppa said less than 10 per cent of the applicants had their lands verified to reap the benefits. — Borneo Post

https://www.malaymail.com/amp/news/malaysia/2024/01/16/in-sarawak-dayak-oil-palm-planters-say-willing-to-pay-for-ncr-land-surveys-to-speed-up-process/112701

Sumber : Malay Mail