Malaysian policies said to successfully support palm oil prices

In Malaysia, the Malay Mail newspaper reports the plantation industry deputy minister says policies to support palm oil prices including its biodiesel enhancement program and opening new export markets have been successful. More than 85% of the country’s palm oil plantations have received certification under the national sustainability program so far, although the deadline was December 31, 2019 for all farmers to comply. Challenges including land tenure have kept some smallholders for achieving certification, but the government is working to resolve them. In the meantime, they are still allowed to sell to oil mills if their product is of sufficient quality.