USDA arm sees Malaysia 2017-18 palm oil output at 21 million metric tonne, up 7.7%.

Malaysia palm oil production is seen at 21 million metric tonne in 2017-18 marketing year, up 7.7% on year. Malaysia, the world’s second largest grower of the edible oil, produced 19.5 million metric tonne palm oil in 2016-17 (Oct-Sep). Area under oil palm trees is seen rising to 5.2 million ha in 2017-18 from 4.9 million ha a year ago. Palm oil exports from Malaysia are projected at 18 million metric tonne this year, up from 17 million metric tonne in 2016-17. Total supply of the tropical oil for 2017-18 is seen at 22.73 million metric tonne, higher than 21.85 million metric tonne the previous year. Malaysian Palm Oil Board, however, has estimated 18.9 million metric tonne productions of the tropical oil against the USDA arm’s estimate of 19.5 million metric tonne for the year ended September.