14/01/2013 (Bernama) - The government will maintain the current zero export tax on crude palm oil (CPO) for February as the base price is below RM2,250 a tonne.

Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Tan Sri Bernard Dompok said with the way the current trend has been going, the CPO export tax would be zero next month.

"From the trend of the prices, the export tax will still be the same in February and there will be another month of tax-free CPO if the price does not reach RM2,250 a tonne," he told reporters after opening the Palm Oil Review and Outlook Seminar 2013 here today.

Dompok said the government would make the official announcement on the final crude palm oil export tax for February in the next few days.

The Plantation Industries and Commodities Ministry announced in October that effective Jan 31, 2013, the CPO export tax rate will be between 4.5 per cent and 8.5 per cent, depending on the prevailing CPO price, and will be fixed on a monthly basis for Malaysia to stay competitive.