MALAYSIA is confident exports of its palm oil and related products to China will increase further this year, Bernama state news agency reported on Tuesday (Nov 14), citing the plantations and commodities minister.

Fadillah Yusof, who is also deputy prime minister, said Malaysia expects higher demand particularly from China’s oleochemical and animal feed sectors, Bernama reported him as saying at an event in Shanghai.

Malaysia, the world’s second-largest producer of palm oil, shipped US$3.72 billion worth of the commodity and related products last year to China, accounting for 11 per cent of its total exports of palm derivatives worldwide, Fadillah said, according to Bernama.

China is Malaysia’s largest trading partner. REUTERS