Malaysia

India will likely'see below-average rains in the monsoon season for the first three years of 2026', said the government on Monday. This is raising concerns about the growth and farm production in Asia’s third largest economy, as it battles the inflation caused by the Iran war. Monsoons are the lifeblood of India’s nearly $4 trillion economy. They provide almost 70% of all the rain needed to water the farms, replenish aquifers, and fill reservoirs. M. Ravichandran (secretary in the Ministry of Earth Sciences) told a press conference that the monsoon is expected to be 92% of its long-period-average this year....

Oliveiro Guerreiro Filho, an agronomist at the Campinas Agronomy Institute, wanders among a mess of coffee plants. Unlike the uniform rows on most Brazilian coffee farms each cluster is a little different. Researchers hope that the genes from these 15 non-commercial and uncommon breeds, such as racemosa and liberica, could help to ensure future supplies of Arabica coffee. Scientists warn of the impact climate change will have on arabica, the most common bean in coffee production. Brazil is expected to be among those countries that see a decline in output. Rabobank released a report this week that said climate change...

Two weather bureau sources said that India will likely record its warmest March ever, with temperatures above average forecast for 'key wheat and rapeseed growing states, which could reduce yields. India, the world's?second-largest producer of wheat? and?biggest consumer?of edible oil, is counting upon bumper crops in 2026 to export excess wheat and reduce costly imports such as palm, sunflower, and soy oils. The higher temperatures at the critical stages of grain filling and maturation could reduce yields. This would lower overall production, which was expected to hit a record. The demand for electricity is expected to increase in March due...

Carester, a French rare-earths specialist, and Malaco Mining Group, a Malaysian miner, have teamed up to create a rare-earths separation plant. They will also work together on rare earths mining. After meeting with Malaysian officials, Benjamin Gallezot (a consultant on strategic minerals) said that the agreement will include both technology transfers and expertise to ensure environmental compliance. Western countries are working to find new sources of rare Earths for electric vehicles, smartphones, and other high-tech items. This is to reduce their dependence on China, which is the world's biggest rare earths producer. Malaysia is seeking foreign partners to develop its...

Scientists said that the storms which devastated Sri Lanka in late November, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand were'supercharged' by increased sea temperatures, and made worse by rapid forest destruction, according to a new study. Tropical Cyclone Senyar, which formed in the Malacca Strait and devastated Southeast Asia, killed nearly 1,200 people, 969 of whom were on Sumatra, an island in Indonesia. For the damages to be repaired, at least $3 billion is needed in relief funds. Sri Lanka has been hit by flooding and landslides due to Tropical Cyclone Ditwah. The death toll is over?600, and the economic losses are estimated...

Amran Siagian (39), a resident of Sipirok in North Sumatra province, met Tapanuli Orangutans frequently on a hill. Siagian who has been working at the Orangutan Center (OIC), as a ranger, to protect this endangered animal for at least five year, recalls that the orangutans loved eating durians and other fruits grown in the surrounding area. Orangutans have disappeared from Sipirok after the landslides. As of Tuesday, 962 people had died from the cyclone-induced flooding and landslides. 291 are still missing. Storms in southern Thailand and Malaysia also claimed the lives of?about 200 other people. "They must have gone further...

As the flood waters receded, authorities began coordinating recovery efforts, rescuing stranded residents, restoring power and communications, and rescuing stranded citizens. A rare tropical storm has formed in the Malacca Strait, causing torrential rainfall across large parts of Indonesia and Malaysia. Authorities said that a cyclone killed 46 more people in the island nation of Sri Lanka. According to three Indonesian provincial authorities, by Friday afternoon 94 deaths had been confirmed in the badly affected Sumatra. Search and Rescue personnel were still unable to reach residents in the Padang Pariaman area of Sumatra on Friday, where 22 people had died....

State media reported that Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim stated that the development of a 600-million-ringgit ($142-million) super magnet production facility in Pahang would strengthen the nation's rarity earth sector. In July, Australia’s Lynas Rare Earths signed a contract with South Korea’s JS Link to build a 3,000-tonne neodymium magnetic manufacturing facility near Lynas’ advanced materials plant located in Malaysia’s Kuantan District. Anwar told state news agency Bernama that Malaysia's Trade Minister would monitor the project, as it involves rare earth processing. Anwar stated that "JS Link already bought the land and is ready to start operations. This is no...

In late June, Indonesian soldiers wearing fatigues entered a palm oil plantation in Borneo and displayed a sign declaring that the estate was under government control. The Melati Hanjalipan Plantation is a perfect example of a military-backed takeover which has shocked the 16 million-strong workforce and the world's largest palm oil producer. Agrinas Palma Nusantara is the new state-owned palm oil firm that has a land area of 9.1 million acres. Nearly half was transferred to it, making it the largest palm oil company in terms of size. This crackdown, ordered by the President Prabowo Subianto, is the largest structural...

Malaysian automaker Proton opened its first assembly plant for electric vehicles on Thursday as it looks to develop its EV sector. The plant, which is located in the Automotive High-Tech Valley of western Perak State - Malaysia's primary auto-making hub – will initially have a capacity to produce 20,000 vehicles annually. Proton stated in a press release that this could be increased to 45,000 cars per year. Proton announced that the e.MAS 7 will be its first EV and then the e.MAS 5 as the entry-level model. Proton's majority owner is the Malaysian conglomerate DRB HICOM, while China's Zhejiang geely...

Kamini Kurmi, a picker at a tea estate in Assam (India's northeastern State), wears an umbrella over her head so that her hands are free to pluck the delicate leaves off the bushes. Kurmi is one of many women who are employed to harvest conventional crops using their dextrous hands, rather than machines. The extreme weather conditions are shrinking harvests in India's tea plantations. This is threatening the future of a beverage industry that has been renowned for refreshing beverages like Assam and Darjeeling. It also threatens a global market valued at over $10 billion per year. Scientist Rupanjali Baruah...

The price of iron ore fell on Wednesday, for the second session in a row. This was due to a rising supply that outweighed brisk short-term demand. The daytime trading price of the most traded January iron ore contract at China's Dalian Commodity Exchange was 0.64% less than its previous closing price, which was 777.5 Yuan ($108.70). As of 0714 GMT, the benchmark September iron ore price on the Singapore Exchange remained flat at $102,35 per ton. The daily hot metal production hovered around 2.4 millions tons due to healthy steel margins. This boosted demand for raw materials including iron...

The price of Malaysian palm oil futures rose for the second consecutive session on Tuesday as investors became more optimistic about Malaysia's plans to produce biodiesel. By midday, the benchmark palm 'oil contract on the Bursa Derivatives Exchange for July 'delivery' had gained 42 ringgit (0.91%) to $4,664 ringgit (1,177.18 USD per metric ton). Malaysia will start producing biodiesel in June with a blend of 15% palm oil, called B15. This will help to lower diesel prices, said the country's vice prime minister on Monday. Paramalingam Supramaniam is the director of brokerage Pelindung Bestari. He believes that for a successful...

Malaysian palm oil futures rose on Monday for the fourth consecutive session, following the strength of crude?oil and Dalian palm olein. By midday, the benchmark palm oil contract for June delivery on the 'Bursa Malaysia derivatives exchange had gained 85 ringgit or 1.86% to 4,657 Ringgit ($1,184.99), a metric tonne. A Kuala Lumpur based trader reported that Dalian palm oil futures had seen strong gains during the morning Asian sessions, when it traded at its highest price since June 2022. The trader said that "the market was also supported" by "firmer crude oil price." Dalian's soyoil contract with the highest...

Malaysian palm oils futures continued to rise on Monday for a second consecutive session. They also reached a new high of one week, tracking the strength of Dalian and Chicago edible oil, while gains in the energy complex also provided support. By midday, the benchmark?palm-oil contract for May delivery at the Bursa Derivatives Exchange had gained 61 Ringgit or 1.51% to 4,103 Ringgit ($1,051.24) per metric ton. A Kuala Lumpur based trader reported that "Bursa Malaysia CPO Futures opened higher tracking price spreads of rival oilseeds." "Sentiment is also finding support in gains made by the energy complex as supply-risk...

Malaysian palm futures declined on Friday due to a 'profit-taking', but they posted a weekly increase based on the strength of rival edible oils on the Dalian and Chicago Exchanges and Indonesia’s plan to increase its palm oil export tax. The benchmark March palm oil contract on the Bursa Derivatives Exchange fell 5?ringgit or 0.12% to 4,038 Ringgit ($992.14) per metric ton as of?closing. The contract rose by 1.18% in the last week. After the recent rally on rumours about Indonesia's levy hike, there are a lot of profit-taking activities going on today. Profit-taking?starts when Dalian close firm draws a...

Malaysian palm futures rose on Thursday for the?second session in a row, boosted by bargain-buying and an improved price competition against soyoil. By midday, the benchmark palm oil contract on Bursa Derivatives Exchange for March delivery had gained 30 ringgit or 0.76% to $3,996 ringgit (US$978.21) per metric ton. Paramalingam Supramaniam is the director of Selangor brokerage Pelindung Bestari. He said that traders are buying the price drops following the recent sell-off. The price of palm oil also has become "increasingly appealing" compared to the prices for other oils, especially soybean oil. Dalian's palm oil contract gained 1.27%, but its...

The price of palm oil in Malaysia rose by more than 1% Tuesday, marking the fourth consecutive session that prices have risen. This was largely due to the higher Chicago soyoil after China bought American soybeans. The benchmark contract for palm oil delivery in January on the Bursa Derivatives exchange ended 59 ringgit or 1.42% higher, at $4210 ringgit (1,012.02) per metric ton. David Ng, a proprietary trading at Kuala Lumpur's Iceberg X Sdn. Bhd., explained that the contract tracked gains on the Chicago soyoil markets today. Two traders who were familiar with the transactions said that China purchased at...

The price of Malaysian palm oils futures increased for the second session in a row on Thursday. This was due to a stronger soyoil, and strong demand from export markets. By midday, the benchmark palm oil contract on Bursa Derivatives Exchange for December delivery had gained 50 ringgit or 1.14% to 4,438 Ringgit ($1,055.91). David Ng, a proprietary trading at Kuala Lumpur's Iceberg X Sdn. Bhd., said that crude palm oil was higher due to overnight strength on the soybean oil markets. The recent strong export performances also lifted the market sentiment. He said that prices are supported above 4,400...

The price of palm oil futures in Malaysia fell more than 2% Tuesday. It was the lowest since 8 August, after Argentina, which is a major exporter of soyoil, temporarily removed its export tax. This made soyoil less expensive than palm oil. After a slight rise of 0.41% in the previous session, the benchmark palm oil contract on Bursa Malaysia's Derivatives exchange fell 102 ringgit or 2.3% to 4,341 Ringgit ($1,034.56) per metric ton. Paramalingam Supramaniam is the director of Selangor brokerage Pelindung Bestari. He said that the Argentina news caused a massive selloff on the Chicago and Dalian market....

Malaysian palm futures ended lower on Thursday after four sessions of gains. Investors booked profits while an Indonesian industry group reportedly lobbied the government to postpone the B50 biofuel mandate. The benchmark contract for palm oil delivery in October on the Bursa Derivatives exchange lost 30 ringgit or 0.68% to 4,405 Ringgit ($1,046.32) per metric ton. A local news website quoted Eddy Martono, the chairman of the palm oil industry GAPKI as saying that the plan could lead to a decrease in palm oil exports. GAPKI was told that it did not submit a written request, but a government official...

The price of Malaysian palm oil futures rose on Tuesday due to bargain-buying and a stronger Dalian palm olein. Traders also expect better export data in the first half August. At the close, the benchmark palm oil contract on Bursa Derivatives Exchange for October delivery was up 103 Ringgit or 2.46% at 4,290 Ringgit ($1,015.38) per metric ton. The contract dropped 1.37% during the previous session. A Kuala Lumpur based trader reported that bargain buying helped to support prices across the board, while Dalian palm oil recovered from its lows of yesterday. The trader said that the market would also...

The price of Malaysian palm oils rose on Thursday for a second session, with Dalian oil, a stronger competitor, supporting the market. Crude oil and Chicago soybean oil were weaker. The benchmark palm-oil contract for September delivery at Bursa Malaysia's Derivatives exchange gained 31 ringgit or 0.76% to $4093 ringgit (US$969.91) per metric ton. Anilkumar bagani, research director at Mumbai-based Sunvin Group, said that the bullish momentum of Chinese vegetable oils during Asian hour supported the market. He added that the gains were capped by a decline in Chicago soyoil and energy prices. Dalian's palm oil contract, which is the...

The price of palm oil in Malaysia rose on Wednesday as a result of improved demand, a rally of soyoil and a possible reduction of production for June. By midday, the benchmark palm oil contract on Bursa Malaysia's Derivatives exchange for September delivery had gained 66 Ringgit or 1.66% to 4,034 Ringgit per metric ton. "Overall, the market has improved. Demand has returned to normalcy." Our preliminary assessment of lower production in the month of June, coupled with the rallying soyoil prices, helped keep palm prices competitive, said Paramalingam Supramaniam at Selangor brokerage Pelindung Bestari. Dalian's palm oil contract, which...