Pakistan may import 0.15m tonnes of palm oil in April

ISLAMABAD, Mar 28 (Commodity Online): With the carry-over stocks dwindling, Pakistan may opt to import up to 150,000 tonnes of palm oil in April, according to The Nation. Pakistan is the world's fourth-largest buyer of vegetable oil. The country brought less of oil in February due to huge imports in the preceding months. But, buying picked up in March with 110,400 tons being bought from Malaysia in the period between March 1 and March 25. The trend is expected to slow down in simmering months of May, June when less of fried products is consumed. Pakistan imports a mix of refined and crude palm oil and takes in 3 million tonnes of edible oil a year, sourced from Malaysia and Indonesia. The country produces only 500,000-800,000 tonnes of cottonseed, rapeseed and sunflower and imports 80 per cent of demand in vegetable oil.