Cooking oil shortage hits Johor as 1kg, 2kg bottles disappear from shelves

Yahoo

07-03-2025

JOHOR BARU, March 6 — Shoppers across Johor are struggling to find 1kg and 2kg bottles of locally produced cooking oil, as retailers report stock shortages that have persisted since the start of the year.
Checks at sundry shops and supermarkets in Larkin, Tampoi, Pasir Gudang, and Kulai found empty shelves, with retailers confirming that supply has been disrupted since January.
Wong Kok Wai, a second-generation sundry shop owner, said his stock of 1kg and 2kg cooking oil bottles has been low for months as suppliers have halted deliveries.
'A 1kg bottle of palm oil is priced at around RM6.90, while a 2kg bottle costs RM12.70. Right now, we only have alternatives like peanut, canola, corn, and sunflower oil, but those are nearly double the price of palm oil.
'Our supply of the RM2.50 subsidised cooking oil packets remains stable,' said Wong, who also serves as secretary of the Johor Federation of Grocery and Sundry Goods Merchants Association.
He attributed the shortage to record-high crude palm oil prices, which have made production less profitable under government price controls.
'The global market price for crude palm oil is expected to go up RM5,300 per tonne. Previously, the highest price was RM3,800 per tonne.
'Factories are reluctant to increase production because selling at government-controlled prices is not profitable for them.
While 5kg bottled cooking oil is still available at RM30.90, Wong noted that supply is limited and urged consumers to buy only what they need.
Hypermarkets and supermarkets are also facing similar shortages of 1kg and 2kg cooking oil bottles, though 3kg and 5kg options remain available.
Mas Imran Adam, general manager of a supermarket chain, said supply issues began in December and worsened in January.
'We only received 25 per cent of our usual supply. If we normally get 1,000 tonnes, this time we only got 250 tonnes. Many of our branches are affected, and some outlets have only one type of cooking oil in stock, while others have none at all,' he said.
Supermarket owner Tiong Foo Kai said demand has surged unexpectedly, leading to stock depletion.
'Previously, our 250kg stock of packet cooking oil lasted a week. Now, it sells out within an hour.
'Even with a three-packet-per-person limit, customers are coming in groups to buy in bulk. We receive at least 2,000kg of cooking oil per month, so the supply is there, but panic buying is making it hard to keep up,' he said.
Johor Investment, Trade, Consumer Affairs, and Human Resources Committee chairman Lee Ting Han confirmed that the state government is aware of the issue.
He said Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi has been briefed and that the state will engage with the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry to explore solutions.