SANDAKAN: The oil palm industry will continue to be important to the Malaysian and Sabah economies, as the industry is projected to contribute an estimated RM200bil to Malaysia's export value by 2020, about three times the current value.

"Sabah is Malaysia's main crude palm oil producing state with 1.44 million hectares planted with the crop. In terms of yield, Sabah's plantations produce an average of 20.4 tonnes of fresh fruit bunches per hectare, compared with 19 tonnes in Peninsular Malaysia and 16.6 tonnes in Sarawak," he said at the opening of the 5th Palmex Malaysia here today.