MALAYSIA DATA: May gasoline output hit post-pandemic peak before Delta wave

Quantum Commodity Intelligence - Malaysia's gasoline production in May jumped 12.4% from April to 532,995 mt, 10.3% above May 2019 and a post-pandemic high, government statistics released Monday showed.

The figures reflect demand before the government imposed travel restrictions across much of the country.

Diesel output also rose 39.5% on the month to 920,180 mt, but was down 18.2% from 2019.

LPG manufacturing gained 21.7% from April to 235,994 mt, 8.3% lower than in May 2019 but also a post-pandemic high.

Meanwhile, kerosene, naphtha and fuel oil all saw production levels fall on the month.

While gasoline and LPG made healthy monthly gains, naphtha output fell 28% from April to 258,787 mt and was down 28.7% from 2019.

Kerosene dipped 6.5% to 351,057, but up 1.1% from 2019 and the second-highest level since March 2020.

Fuel oil dropped 5.9% to 160,77, down 11% from May 2019.

LNG production made a 20% gain to 2.367 million mt, up a marginal 0.3% from 2019.

Malaysia has moved through various states of lockdown this year, with rules also diverging by state based on the localised spread of Covid-19.

Conditional Movement Orders were in place throughout much of April, while a more stringent Movement Control Order was reimposed in the Kelantan state.

At the end of May the government announced a "total lockdown" for two weeks starting June 1, which has now been extended until such time as daily cases fall below 4,000.