Latest market news

Malaysia launches WTO palm oil complaint against EU

  • Market: Agriculture, Biofuels, Fertilizers
  • 18/01/21

Malaysia, the world's second-biggest palm oil producer after Indonesia, has initiated legal action against the EU and its member states France and Lithuania with the World Trade Organization (WTO) for their anti-palm oil biofuel policies.

Kuala Lumpur has filed a request for consultations under the WTO's dispute settlement mechanism against the EU for implementing the Renewable Energy Directive (RED) II without considering its views on and commitment to sustainable palm oil measures.

RED II classifies palm oil as a high indirect land use change product that raises its greenhouse gas emissions to unacceptable levels and so will be gradually phased out of the EU renewable energy mix by 2030.

France has gone further in its stance, having banned palm oil from being used as a biofuel feedstock as of 1 January 2020.

Malaysian minister of plantation industries and commodities Mohd Khairuddin Aman Razali said this creates an unreasonable trade barrier against Malaysia and is against the very principle of free-trade practice outlined by the WTO.

Malaysia has taken various steps, including economic and technical missions to Europe and giving feedback on the implementation of RED II, that have not been taken into account, he said.

It has also expanded coverage of its Malaysian sustainable palm oil certification scheme that aims to improve the country's sustainability practices. But Malaysian producers have come under fire for alleged labour abuses recently, with the US banning palm oil imports from Sime Darby and FGV.

Malaysia will remain a third-party observer in a similar case filed by Indonesia in 2019, which is ongoing.

Khairuddin said the country's involvement is crucial as a sign of support for and solidarity with palm oil-producing countries. Malaysia exported 379,000t of biodiesel last year, according to the Malaysian palm oil board.


Sharelinkedin-sharetwitter-sharefacebook-shareemail-share

Related news posts

Argus illuminates the markets by putting a lens on the areas that matter most to you. The market news and commentary we publish reveals vital insights that enable you to make stronger, well-informed decisions. Explore a selection of news stories related to this one.

News

Cop: EU, four countries commit to 1.5°C climate plans


21/11/24
News
21/11/24

Cop: EU, four countries commit to 1.5°C climate plans

Baku, 21 November (Argus) — The EU, Canada, Mexico, Norway and Switzerland have committed to submit new national climate plans setting out "steep emission cuts", that are consistent with the global 1.5°C temperature increase limit sought by the Paris Agreement. The EU and four countries made the pledge at the UN Cop 29 climate summit in Baku, Azerbaijan today, and called on other nations to follow suit — particularly major economies. Countries are due to submit new climate plans — known as nationally determined contributions (NDCs) — covering 2035 goals to the UN climate body the UNFCCC by early next year. The EU, Canada, Mexico, Norway and Switzerland have not yet submitted their plans, but they will be aligned with a 1.5°C pathway, EU climate commissioner Wopke Hoekstra said today. The Paris climate agreement seeks to limit the global rise in temperature to "well below" 2°C and preferably to 1.5°C. Canada's NDC is being considered by the country's cabinet and will be submitted by the 10 February deadline, Canadian ambassador for climate change Catherine Stewart said today. Switzerland's new NDC will also be submitted by the deadline, the country's representative confirmed. Pamana's special representative for climate change Juan Carlos Monterrey Gomez also joined the press conference today. Panama, which is designated as carbon negative, submitted an updated NDC in June. It is planning to submit a nature pledge, Monterrey Gomez said. "It is time to streamline processes to get to real action", he added. The UK also backed the pledge. The UK announced an ambitious emissions reduction target last week. The UAE — which hosted Cop 28 last year — released a new NDC just ahead of Cop 29, while Brazil, host of next year's Cop 30, released its new NDC on 13 November during the summit. Thailand yesterday at Cop 29 communicated a new emissions reduction target . Indonesia last week said that it intends to submit its updated NDC ahead of the February deadline, with a plan placing a ceiling on emissions and covering all greenhouse gases as well as including the oil and gas sector. Colombia also indicated that its new climate plan will seek to address fossil fuels, but it will submit its NDC by June next year . By Georgia Gratton Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

News

Elevated nitrate levels found in Iowa water: EPA


20/11/24
News
20/11/24

Elevated nitrate levels found in Iowa water: EPA

Houston, 20 November (Argus) — The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) added seven Iowa water segments to its impaired US waters list, saying they are all polluted with nitrate, possibly stemming from nitrogen fertilizer runoff. The EPA added these seven water segments to the list of impaired waters on 12 November, determining each was laden with nitrate pollution. The EPA invoked water restoration plans in partnership with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR). This is in addition to the 712 water segments in Iowa that are already on the state's list of water segments that need a restoration plan under the Clean Water Act, according to the EPA. The largest contributor to nitrate pollution is manure and commercial fertilizer that runs off farm fields, according Pam Taylor, director of the Iowa Sierra Club Chapter. Nearly 85pc of land in Iowa is farmland, using nearly 149 lbs of nitrogen fertilizer per acre annually,the US Department of Agriculture said. The Iowa DNR initially submitted a list of water segments that need restoration attention on 9 May, which was only partially approved by the EPA. This triggered the agency to place these additional water segments on public notice until 12 December. Once that date has passed, the EPA can implement a restoration plan in partnership with the Iowa DNR. The Iowa Chapter of the Sierra Club is in support of the EPA's decision. It alleged that the DNR purposefully used an incorrect method to determine nitrate pollution, which may have enabled the DNR to excuse certain water segments from the list of impaired bodies. Separately, a letter was also sent to the EPA on 16 April by several Iowa agencies requesting the EPA apply its emergency powers to address nitrate groundwater contamination in northeastern Iowa. By Meghan Yoyotte Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

News

Cameroon's CNPC-C issues NPK tender to buy


20/11/24
News
20/11/24

Cameroon's CNPC-C issues NPK tender to buy

London, 20 November (Argus) — The national confederation of cotton producers (CNPC-C) has issued a tender to purchase 32,000t of complex fertilizers, closing on 9 December. The CNPC-C requests 16,000t of 22-23-15+5S+1B and 16,000t of 15-20-15+5S+1B, both in 50kg bags, for delivery on an ex-works basis in Douala on or before 28 February. CNPC-C had opened offers against its 24 October tender to buy 45,000t of complex fertilizers and 12,000t of urea. But there were no valid offers for the 16,000t of 22-23-15+5S+1B it requested. It received five valid offers against its request for 29,000t of 14-23-14+5S+1B or 15-20-15+5S+1B, but is now seeking more competitive offers under the fresh tender. By Nykole King Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

News

Graphjet launches Malaysian biomass-to-graphite plant


20/11/24
News
20/11/24

Graphjet launches Malaysian biomass-to-graphite plant

Singapore, 20 November (Argus) — Nasdaq-listed Graphjet Technology has started operations at its artificial graphite plant in Malaysia, which will produce battery-grade graphite using recycled palm kernel shells (PKS), the firm said on 19 November. Graphjet's facility has the capacity to produce 3,000 t/yr of graphite by recycling up to 9,000 t/yr of PKS, which is sufficient to produce batteries for 40,000 electric vehicles (EVs)/yr. The firm has already received its first shipment of PKS, it said. Graphjet has another artificial graphite production facility planned in US' Nevada, and it plans to produce hard carbon at the Malaysian facility to use as feedstock at the Nevada facility. The Nevada facility is expected to have the capacity to recycle 30,000 t/yr of PKS to produce 10,000 t/yr of battery-grade artificial graphite and is slated to begin production in 2026, said Graphjet in April. China, the dominant producer of graphite, added a number of graphite products into its export licensing scheme at the end of last year. The move back then alarmed its neighbours, Japan and South Korea , which are major battery-producing countries and they have since been looking to reduce their dependency on Chinese graphite. China's graphite flake exports fell by 23pc to 44,103t during January-September following the exports curb, according to Chinese customs data. By Joseph Ho Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Generic Hero Banner

Business intelligence reports

Get concise, trustworthy and unbiased analysis of the latest trends and developments in oil and energy markets. These reports are specially created for decision makers who don’t have time to track markets day-by-day, minute-by-minute.

Learn more