Palm Oil Output at Risk as Virus Lockdown Worsens Labor Shortage
- Malaysia’s Covid resurgence delays hiring of palm oil laborers
- Production in the second half may disappoint initial estimates
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A resurgence of Covid-19 infections in No. 2 palm oil grower Malaysia is set to exacerbate a labor shortage and curb production of the world’s most-consumed cooking oil.
The Southeast Asian country, which announced it will extend the first phase of its national lockdown to the end of June, has shuttered non-essential industries and is expected to prolong a freeze on the recruitment of foreign workers as it battles with a third wave of the pandemic.