Osaka: Malaysia is setting its sights on expanding its market reach in Japan with a focus on sustainable palm-based products. The Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI) has announced plans to introduce specialty fats, tocotrienols, red palm oil, and palm biomass-based medium-density fibreboard in the Japanese market, catering to housing and furniture applications.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Malaysia is bolstering its position as a global leader in sustainable commodity certification through the introduction of the Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) 2.0. This enhanced standard within the MSPO certification scheme was recently highlighted at Expo 2025 Osaka during the Ministry of Plantation and Commodities’ (KPK) promotional programme. MSPO 2.0 emphasizes Malaysia’s dedication to making sustainable agriculture a fundamental component of its trade and economic diplomacy strategies.
KPK Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani highlighted that MSPO 2.0 serves as a testament to Malaysia’s commitment to transforming its commodity sector to align with global sustainability standards. He emphasized that the initiative embeds sustainability throughout the ecosystem, from smallholder farms to export outlets, with aspirations for the MSPO model to be adopted across all commodities.
During KPK Week at Expo 2025 Osaka, Malaysia signed five strategic memoranda of understanding (MoUs) across various commodity sectors, including palm-based biomass, sustainable pepper, kenaf innovation, and cacao exports. This reflects the country’s multi-sectoral push for sustainable and high-value commodity development.
MITI further revealed that Malaysia’s export credibility has been strengthened through a new collaboration between MSPO and AEON Japan, aimed at enhancing the visibility of certified products in retail settings. MSPO-labelled palm-based products are already making their way onto store shelves.
In addition, the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB), an agency under KPK responsible for research, development, and licensing, engaged in agreements and explored business opportunities for the oil palm agri-commodity sector at the expo. This move aims to advance trade development in Japan and the broader Asian region.
Currently, 86 percent of Malaysia’s palm oil cultivation is MSPO-certified, with a target of reaching 95 percent certification by the end of 2025. Under Budget 2025, RM50 million has been allocated to support the nationwide implementation of MSPO, providing technical assistance, audit support, and traceability tools to aid independent smallholders.
Malaysia’s participation at Expo 2025, led by MITI and involving MSPO alongside over 21 ministries and 70 agencies, will feature forums, product showcases, business matching sessions, and MoU signings throughout the 26-week event. This positions Malaysia as a future-ready trade and investment partner.
To date, Malaysia has achieved 68 percent of its RM13 billion target in trade and investment leads for Expo 2025.