imports

The world's second-biggest economy imported around 8.42 million tonnes of oil from Russia last month, as Beijing continued to refuse to condemn Moscow's war.

The south Asian country is the world's biggest importer of vegetable oils and lower purchases could weigh on Malaysian palm oil futures.

The sources, who declined to be named as the talks were private, say the government is considering mandating that importers seek a licence from the authorities, replacing the existing free-import regime.

He also invoked the Defense Production Act to spur solar panel manufacturing in the US.

Chinese consumers bought US$108 billion worth of imported produce in 2020, with that number set to grow for 2021 as imports jumped nearly 30% year on year in the first three quarters.

Total trade expanded 24.6% year-on-year to RM2.01 trillion from January to November 2021.

Dozens of ships carrying hundreds of thousands of containers remain at anchor outside the Los Angeles harbour, waiting for a berth on docks packed to capacity.

The Consumers Association of Penang cites a report stating that more than 6,700 animals in Thailand have been affected so far.