US Import of Lauric Oils Down in March

Data from Oil World show the US imported 47,900 MT of lauric oils in March, a reduction by 14.5% from 56,000 MT in the same month a year ago. Of total import, coconut oil was 26,300 MT and palm kernel oil was 21,600 MT, for respective market share of 54.9% and 45.1%.  Import of both oils were trimmed during the month with coconut oil posting 18.1% shortfall from prior year at 32,100 MT and palm kernel oil a much lesser deficit of 9.6% from 23,900 MT. Purchases from all leading suppliers of coconut oil and palm kernel oil were lower than year-ago.  
Indonesia was the biggest source of lauric oils during the month responsible for 52.2% of total or 25,000 MT (28,900 MT last year) consisting largely of palm kernel oil at 19,600 MT (20,400 MT); coconut oil was only 5,400 MT (8,500 MT).  The Philippines supplied solely coconut oil at 16,400 MT (16,900 MT) which accounted for 34.2% of lauric oil aggregate.  Malaysia’s delivery of 5,000 MT (8,700 MT) contributed 10.4% and was a mix of 3,300 MT (5,300 MT) coconut oil and 1,700 MT (3,400 MT) palm kernel oil. Import from other countries at 1,500 MT (1,500 MT) was made up of 1,200 MT (1,400 MT) coconut oil and 300 MT (100 MT) palm kernel oil.
Total import for the first quarter of this year reached 210,000 MT, higher by 10.4% compared to 190,300 MT at the same time last year.  Coconut oil was 133,000 MT (94,500 MT) of which 64.7% or 86,000 MT (67,900 MT) came from the Philippines.  Palm kernel oil was 77,000 MT (95,800 MT) of which 89.1% or 68,600 MT (69,900 MT) originated from Indonesia.