Commercial
palm oil production is mainly located on Peninsular Malaysia and
dates back to the 1960s, when the Malaysian Government started a
massive agricultural diversification plan. Considerable palm oil
production however only started in the early 1990s and increased
rapidly thereafter. From 1990 to 2002 palm oil production has nearly
doubled from 6,094,622 (MT) to 11,880,000 (MT) per year, making
Malaysia the biggest palm oil producer worldwide. With approximately
85% of total production being exported, Malaysia is currently also
the largest palm oil exporter. In 2001, Malaysia's exports of palm
oil and palm oil based products were valued at US$2.95
billion.
Presently palm oil finds its application as an ingredient in
margarine, shortening and ice cream. Moreover palm oil is used as
cooking oil and for manufacturing soaps, detergents, cosmetics,
lubricants, and plasticizers.
The Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB), an institution established in
1998 under the Malaysian Palm Oil Act (Act 582), plays an important
role in organizing and promoting the palm oil industry of Malaysia
by carrying out research related to planting, production,
harvesting, extraction, processing, storage, transportation, use,
consumption and marketing of oil palm and oil palm products. |