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.