Malaysia plans palm oil ad blitz in Singapore

Malaysia plans palm oil ad blitz in Singapore

SINGAPORE (AFP): The Malaysian Palm Oil Promotional Council will plug the product in a week-long blitz here next month that will focus on the nutritional and health benefits of the vegetable oil, the council said.

The Palm Oil Week from Aug. 18 was billed as an event to increase public awareness of the widely-consumed oil.

"Consumers will get to know all about palm oil, its many uses, including uses in food and non-food applications and its health and nutritional benefits," the council said in a statement here.

Palm oil contains elements identified as possible anti-cancer agents and helps reduce the risk of heart disease, it said.

Malaysia is the world's largest exporter of palm oil, accounting for 64 percent of world palm oil exports and 53 percent of world palm oil production.

Last year, Malaysia's output was 7.2 million tons and is projected to increase to 7.8 million tons in 1995.

The greatest demand for Malaysian palm oil has been from Asian economies, with China emerging last year as the single largest buyer with imports exceeding 1.3 million tons, followed by Pakistan with 1.1 million tons.

Mohammad Yusof Hashim, chief executive officer of the council, said palm oil was one of the world's most widely consumed vegetable oils, reaching more than four billion people in 90 countries.

"We expect demand for palm oil to continue to grow because of the strong demand from the rapidly developing Asian countries, Africa and Latin America, " he said.

Palm oil demand has increased with a shift in consumer preferences away from animal fats towards vegetable oils as a result of rising health consciousness.

While annual per capita consumption in developed countries for oils and fats is 15 kilograms (33 pounds), the figure for China is only 8.6 kilograms (18.92 pounds) and India about seven kilograms (15.4 pounds).

"We expect per capita consumption to increase with the growing affluence and changing lifestyles in developing countries," Hashim said.

The promotional event will include an exhibition of different palm-based cooking oils and other food products and cosmetics, video shows on the history of palm oil and its production cycle.

Workshops on nutrition and healthy cooking, checks on blood cholesterol, glucose and blood pressure, a cooking competition and palm-oil quizzes will be organized.