Last week, Malaysia said it would halt all chicken exports from June until production and costs stabilized amid soaring prices.
The Commodities Minister “will hold discussions with other stakeholders to revise our palm kernel cake export policy in favor of local broilers,” Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin said in a statement.
“Currently, a large part of our palm kernel meal is exported for the European beef industry,” she added.
The minister will discuss steps to quickly ensure the availability of palm kernel waste as animal feed for the national poultry industry, she added.
Chicken feed is generally made up of cereals and soybeans, which Malaysia imports. But Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and uncertain weather conditions have created a global shortage, Ms Zuraida said.
“As a result, the chickens were being fed less, which led to slower than normal livestock growth and, in doing so, a restriction in the supply of birds,” she said.
Malaysia is the second largest producer and exporter of palm oil in the world and produces palm kernel meal which it says can replace imported foods.