Thailand Cooking Oil Shortage: Imported RBD palm oil to be sold in market next week

By mded

28/01/2011 (Mcot), Bangkok - Thirty-thousand tonnes of RBD refined palm oil (refined, bleached and deodorised) which the government ordered earlier were imported from Malaysia to be sold in the Thai market next week, according to the director-general of the Internal Trade Department.

Director General Watcharee Vimuktayon said the RBD palm oil arrived in Thailand and will all enter the country by Jan 31. Thai producers have taken the palm oil to the refinery, and resale is expected at retail stores and department stores next week.

According to Ms Watcharee, the imported palm oil are to be packaged in bottles and one litre plastic bags.

The bottled imported palm oil of all brands will have blue lid covers but the price will still be at no more than Bt47 per unit.

The palm oil in plastic bags will be sold at no more than Bt45, while there will also be the tag of a manufacturing date in blue.

Commerce Ministry will closely monitor on this merchandise in term of production process, transportation of goods and retailing.

In addition, the ministry will propose on Feb 1 to the Palm Oil Policy Committee, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban, at least 100,000 more tonnes of palm oil will be imported to compensate for the palm oil shortage in the country.

The latest arrival of the imported RDB palm oil is expected at the beginning of March.