Malaysia: Malaysia and China share significant opportunities to deepen collaboration in value-added industries for palm oil, particularly as demand continues to grow for sustainable, performance-driven, and application-specific palm-based products.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, in a statement from the Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC), Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Dr Noraini Ahmad emphasized the increasingly important role palm oil plays across multiple high-growth sectors. These sectors include food manufacturing, oleochemicals, specialty ingredients, personal care, home care, and emerging industrial applications.
Noraini highlighted that palm oil is now viewed not only as a commodity export but also as a strategic industrial enabler that supports innovation, sustainable manufacturing, and high-value economic growth. She noted Malaysia's strong potential to further strengthen collaboration with China through downstream development, technology exchange, and the expansion of value-added palm-based industries.
These remarks were made during her keynote address at the Malaysian Palm Oil Forum (MPOF) China 2026, hosted by the MPOC in Shanghai. The forum underscored the expanding role of Malaysian palm oil as a high-value, sustainable industrial input supporting innovation, downstream development, and long-term economic cooperation between both countries.
Noraini underscored that enhanced Malaysia-China cooperation in the palm oil sector would not only improve bilateral trade performance but also support industrial innovation, resilient supply chains, and sustainable development between the two nations. She reaffirmed Malaysia's commitment to sustainable production practices through the mandatory Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) certification scheme implemented nationwide since 2020.
Sustainability, traceability, and responsible production remain critical pillars in strengthening global confidence towards Malaysian palm oil, especially amid evolving international market expectations. China continues to be one of Malaysia's most important palm oil markets, contributing significantly to future industry growth.
In 2025, Malaysia exported approximately 2.64 million tonnes of palm oil and palm-based products to China, generating export earnings valued at around RM10.9 billion. The MPOF China 2026 builds upon MPOC's broader strategic engagement efforts in China.
In November 2025, MPOC hosted 37 leading Chinese buyers in Malaysia to bolster industry confidence through direct exposure to Malaysia's plantations, refineries, downstream manufacturing facilities, and sustainability ecosystem. Through strategic platforms such as MPOF, Malaysia remains committed to strengthening commercial partnerships, expanding market opportunities, and reinforcing the role of Malaysian palm oil as a sustainable, high-value solution supporting the next phase of Malaysia-China industrial growth and economic cooperation.