US Import of Lauric Oils Up in May

Data from Oil World show the US imported 60,300 MT of lauric oils in May, topping same month prior year total at 57,900 MT by 4.1%.  Of this total, coconut oil accounted for 56.6% or 34,100 MT (36,500 MT in the prior year) while palm kernel oil contributed 43.4% or 26,200 MT (21,400 MT).

Indonesia was leading supplier of lauric oil to the US during the month responsible for 50.6% of total import with uptake at 30,500 MT (30,200 MT) of which 5,900 MT (14,500 MT) was coconut oil and 24,500 MT (15,700 MT) was palm kernel oil.  The Philippines accounted for 37.1% with 22,400 MT (18,500 MT) of coconut oil shipment.  Import from Malaysia was 5,800 MT (8,200 MT) of which 4,400 MT (2,600 MT) was coconut oil and 1,400 MT (5,600 MT) was palm kernel oil and contributed 9.6%.  Market share of other countries combined was 2.6%, the equivalent of 1,600 MT (1,000 MT) of lauric oils comprising of 1,400 MT (900 MT) of coconut oil and 200 MT (100 MT) of palm kernel oil.   

The cumulative January-May figure stood at 330,200 MT, down by 7.7% from a comparable year-earlier period total at 357,900 MT. Coconut oil uptake was 169,400 MT (211,300 MT) of which 65.4% or 110,800 MT (147,800 MT) came from the Philippines. Palm kernel oil was 160,800 MT (146,600 MT) of which 80.2% or 129,000 MT (115,200 MT) originated from Indonesia.