US Import of Lauric Oils Down in July

The US import of lauric oils in July amounted to 75,500 MT according to data from Oil World. This is 18.6% below same month last year at 92,800 MT.  Almost two-thirds (66.4%) of this total was coconut oil at 50,100 MT and the remaining one-third (33.6%) at 25,400 MT was palm kernel oil.  Imports of both oils were reduced during the month, though decline in coconut oil was modest at 5.6% from 53,100 MT last year; palm kernel oil dropped materially by 36.0% from 39,700 MT.
The Philippines was this month’s primary source of lauric oils responsible for 57.7% or 43,600 MT (33,700 MT last year) consisting of coconut oil only.  Following behind was Indonesia which contributed 37.9% or 28,600 MT (45,400 MT) made up of 5,000 MT (8,700 MT) of coconut oil and 23,600 MT (36,700 MT) of palm kernel oil.  
The remaining 4.4% came from Malaysia and other countries. Import from Malaysia was 1,400 MT (2,900 MT) comprising of 300 MT (300 MT) coconut oil and 1,100 MT (2,600 MT) palm kernel oil; the lauric oil mix market share was 1.9%. Delivery from India was 100 MT (9,100 MT) of coconut oil only, while those from other countries which totaled 1,800 MT (1,700 MT) consisted of 1,100 MT (1,300 MT) coconut oil and 700 MT (400 MT) palm kernel oil.
The cumulative lauric oils import figure for the period January-July at 418,500 MT recorded a shortfall of 15.6% from 495,900 MT at the same time a year earlier.  Of this total, coconut oil was 258,200 MT (307,200 MT) of which 175,500 MT (186,800 MT) or 68.0% originated from the Philippines.  Palm kernel oil was 160,300 MT (188,700 MT) of which 139,100 MT (170,800 MT) or 86.8% came from Indonesia.