A Globoil India interview with Mr Rasheed Janmohammed, a specialist in the edible oil businesses in Pakistan, revelaed that the demand of edible oils in Pakistan has not decreased throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, despite the widespread closure of the food service and hotel industries (HoReCa) within the country. According to Mr Rasheed:
Our citizens have great quality of doing charity. Due to COVID-19, most of the Industries other than essential commodities were closed. The main sufferers were the laborers and lower middle class people. The citizens of Pakistan took the challenge and supply of ration was in abundance. This also increased the demand of Edible Oils as practically everyone was keen to carry out this noble gesture.
A review by the Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC) painted a slightly different picture, of a near 10% or 133,844 metric tonne decline in Pakistan by the end of May 2020 compared to May 2019. MPOC stated that the decline is most likely due to supply chain disruptions caused by the six-week lockdown enforced in Pakistan, a precaution that adversely impacted the oils and fats trade.