Palm Exports From Malaysia Slump in First 15 Days of Month

Palm oil shipments from Malaysia tumbled in the first 15 days of January, adding to signs that a zero-rated tax on exports intended to clear record stockpiles has yet to boost trade.

Exports declined 21 percent to 570,510 metric tons from the same period in December, surveyor Intertek said in a statement today. That compares with a 25 percent drop in the first 10 days of this month. Shipments retreated 22 percent to 571,481 tons over 15 days, according to Societe Generale de Surveillance.