M.P. Evans Group plc announced production results for five months to May 31, 2024. For the period, the total crop of fresh fruit bunches processed was 631,400 tonnes, 8% higher than the 584,400 tonnes processed in the same period in 2023. The Group experienced rapid growth in crop in the early part of the year and, whilst this has abated to some degree in recent months, management are pleased to report year-to-date growth from all sources of crop.

Crops by source were as follows: from majority-owned areas 360,700 tonnes (2023 - 329,000 tonnes), associated scheme smallholders 107,300 tonnes (2023 - 101,200 tonnes) and independent suppliers 163,400 tonnes (2023 - 154,600 tonnes). Crop increases have been supported by the areas acquired by the Group in 2023 and, whilst yield from these estates remains relatively low, significant progress is being made to improve agronomic standards. This bodes well for future crop growth.

The Group produced the equivalent of 147,500 tonnes of crude palm oil during the first five months of 2024, an increase of 10% on the 134,400 tonnes produced in the same period in 2023. As a result of operating six palm-oil mills throughout the period, 96% of that CPO came from the Group's own production facilities, with the remainder from outside mills. The Group's engineering team has worked hard to continue delivering robust extraction rates across all mills, and the average oil-extraction rate in Group mills for the first five months was 23.4%, higher than the 23.0% achieved in the same period of 2023.