07/08/2014 (Stuff.co.nz) - Dairy farmers are importing record levels of palm kernels from Malaysia in order to boost milk production.

Statistics New Zealand figures show imports of the kernels, a by-product of the palm oil industry, reached 950 million kilograms in 2014.

Good milksolids returns have enabled dairy farmers to buy in more feed to further increase production.

While it is difficult to monitor barley and other grains bought domestically, it is easier to check palm kernel imports.