13/02/2025

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THURSDAY | FEB 13, 2025

RM288 million palm product exports to Central Asia in 2024

Binastra awarded RM250m deal to build data centre for AIMS Group PETALING JAYA: Binastra Corporation Bhd’s wholly owned subsidiary, Binastra Builders Sdn Bhd, has accepted a letter of award valued at RM250.37 million from MYT DC3 Sdn Bhd to construct a data centre for AIMS Group. The contract represents Binastra’s first accomplishment for the financial year ending Jan 31, 2026 (FY26). The new project involves the development of a six-storey data centre in Cyberjaya, Selangor, a hub for digital infrastructure. Construction is set to commence on Feb 26, with a phased completion timeline ranging from June 15 and Dec 15 this year. Binastra managing director Datuk Jackson Tan Kak Seng said that as Cyberjaya rapidly transforms into Malaysia’s digital infrastructure hub, the company is committed to supporting to the ecosystem. “Our focus is on delivering high quality, resilient, and future-ready data centres that serve a wide range of industries, from cloud computing to enterprise digital storage. Notably, our projects remain solid amidst the recent discussions on the impact of artificial intelligence chip availability on local strategic acquisition by DigitalBridge, a global leader in digital infrastructure investment in 2023, and strong support from TIME dotCom Bhd, AIMS Group has further solidified its position as a dominant player in the data centre industry. Having built a growing presence in the digital infrastructure landscape, Binastra’s portfolio now includes four blocks of data centres, including three in Bukit Jalil. The new data centre project brings the group’s total secured data centre contract value to RM1.24 billion. Binastra said the steady pipeline of projects reflects its capability to meet the evolving demands of the Klang Valley market, blending tech nical expertise with a commitment to energy-efficient, sustainable solu tions. data centres,“ he said in a statement. AIMS Group is an ecosystem-cen tric, carrier-neutral data centre pro vider in Southeast Asia. Following the

KUALA Malaysia exported 54,665 tonnes of palm oil and palm-based products worth RM288.23 million to Uz bekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan in Central Asia in 2024, said Plantation and Commodities Deputy Minister Datuk Chan Foong Hin. He said the Plantation and Commodities Ministry, through the Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC), remains committed to strengthening Malaysia’s position LUMPUR:

and RM3,800 per MT, respectively, as well as its ‘neutral’ stance on the sector. “We maintain the view that CPO price will remain at an elevated level in the near term, (possibly until the end of the 1Q 2025, on the back of weak near-term output prospects), and CPO price strength to dissipate post-1Q 2025,” it added. – Bernama Mohd Isam Mohd Isa (BN Tampin) about the ministry’s efforts to position Malaysia as the leading player in palm oil supply in Central Asia and to regain dominance in palm oil distri bution in Pakistan. Chan said Pakistan is among the top 10 importers of Malaysian palm oil, with imports of 860,260 tonnes last year. “The ministry focuses on the demand for edible oil and the strategic location of the country as a gateway to Central Asia,” the deputy minister added. Chan said the ministry held discussions with the Port Qasim Authority chairman about the advantages of using Pakistan’s port infrastructure to facilitate the Malaysian palm oil distribution to Central Asia during Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani’s visit in January. Malaysia’s exports are ex pected to remain between 18% and 25% of Pakistan’s total palm oil imports, depending on price dynamics and current market conditions. Meanwhile, in response to an additional question from Mohd Isam on the reinstatement of the Smallholder Replanting Finan cing Scheme to full grants, Chan said the ministry has presented the proposal to the Finance Ministry. Responding to an additional question from Nurul Amin Hamid (PN-Padang Terap) on the ministry’s efforts to explore palm oil innovation for energy production in Asia, particularly Japan, Chan said the ministry will participate in a global expo in Osaka, Japan, this year to explore the use of palm biomass waste for electricity generation. “Japan is a market we should explore, especially for biomass waste to generate electricity. However, we do not strongly encourage raw material exports to Japan, we should focus on producing high-value materials before exporting, such as pelletising biomass,” he added. – Bernama

o We’re committed to strengthening Malaysia’s position as key supplier to region and to enhance market dominance in Pakistan: Deputy minister

as a key player in supplying palm oil to Central Asia while en hancing its market dominance in Pakistan. “Central Asia is an important export destination for Malaysian palm oil. In recent years, MPOC,

as the agency responsible for promoting Malaysian palm oil, has implemented various ini tiatives in the region,” he said during a question-and-answer session in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday in response to Datuk

Chan speaking during a question-and-answer session in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday. – BERNAMAPIC

CPO prices to remain stable this year: Analysts KUALA LUMPUR: Crude palm oil (CPO) prices are expected to remain stable this year, ranging between RM4,000 and RM5,000 per metric tonne (MT), according to analysts. palm oil output and lower closing stock levels. Echoing MIDF, CIMB Securities Sdn Bhd expects CPO prices to remain firm, given the low palm oil stock levels in key producing and consuming countries.

prices and increased production from Indonesia,” it added. CIMB also reiterated its “over weight” rating on the sector, with Sime Darby Plantation, IOI Corporation, and Hap Seng Plantations as its top picks. Meanwhile, Hong Leong Investment Bank Bhd Research maintained its 2025 and 2026 CPO price assumptions of RM4,000 per MT

“The CPO price for delivery ended the month at RM4,600 per MT, with an average price of RM4,673 per MT (- 8.7% month-on-month, +23.5% year on-year) due to concerns over escalating supply risks pre-Ramadan,” MIDF Research said in a note yesterday.

MIDF Amanah Investment Bank Bhd’s research arm, MIDF Research, said that for this month, stability will be driven by restocking activities ahead of Ramadan, alongside slower

“We maintain our average CPO price forecast of RM4,200 per MT for 2025 and project planters to report better earnings in the fourth quarter of 2024, supported by higher CPO