
KUALA LUMPUR -- Malaysia is intensifying efforts to diversify its palm oil export destinations, as the world's second-largest exporter fears lower demand this year from India and China, the two largest importers of the local edible oil.
Fears of dwindling demand from Chinese importers rose after China agreed to buy more agricultural products from the United States under the so-called "phase one" trade deal signed Wednesday in Washington. The deal includes palm oil's major competitor, soybean oil.