KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 17 (Reuters) - A weak-to-moderate La Nina weather pattern will trigger severe monsoon rains in Malaysia's key oil palm growing regions, the weather office said on Thursday, potentially disrupting harvesting and boosting prices.
The Malaysian Meteorological Department told Reuters in a statement the presence of the La Nina in the equatorial central Pacific Ocean will worsen the northeast monsoon season that runs from this month till next March.
The weather office said for November and December, parts of the key oil palm growing state of Sabah on Borneo island as well as Johor and Pahang in peninsula Malaysia will experience 20-40 percent more rainfall than their long term means for the period.
These three states alone account for 60-70 percent of total Malaysian production.
"Five to six heavy rainfall episodes are expected to occur during the season," the department said. "Heavy rain over a period of two to three days can cause floods to occur over the low-lying areas near the river banks."
This is the second time the La Nina weather condition has developed globally, which usually brings heavy rains to Southeast Asia's palm oil producers and can trigger drought conditions in soy exporting South America.
