SHANGHAI, 12 May 2026 — Malaysia today reinforced its commitment to positioning palm oil as a strategic driver of future industrial growth with China during the Malaysian Palm Oil Forum (MPOF) China 2026 hosted by the Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC) in Shanghai. Led by YB Datuk Seri Dr. Noraini Ahmad, Minister of Plantation and Commodities, the forum highlighted the expanding role of Malaysian palm oil as a high-value and sustainable industrial input supporting innovation, downstream development, and long-term economic cooperation between both countries.

The Forum brought together industry leaders, manufacturers, buyers, investors, and trade associations from both countries to strengthen cooperation across the palm oil value chain, particularly in downstream processing, innovation, sustainability, and industrial applications.

Held under the theme “Malaysian Palm Oil: Supporting High-Value Growth Through Innovation and Partnerships,” the Forum underscored Malaysia’s aspiration to position palm oil beyond a traditional commodity into a strategic industrial input that supports higher-value manufacturing ecosystems, green growth, and long-term economic cooperation between Malaysia and China.

Delivering the keynote address, YB Datuk Seri Dr. Noraini Ahmad emphasised that Malaysia and China share significant opportunities to deepen collaboration in value-added industries, particularly as demand continues to grow for sustainable, performance-driven, and application-specific palm-based products.

The Minister highlighted that palm oil today plays an increasingly important role across multiple high-growth sectors, including food manufacturing, oleochemicals, specialty ingredients, personal care, home care, and emerging industrial applications.

“Palm oil is no longer viewed solely as a commodity export, but increasingly as a strategic industrial enabler that supports innovation, sustainable manufacturing, and high-value economic growth. Malaysia sees strong potential to further strengthen collaboration with China through downstream development, technology exchange, and the expansion of value-added palm-based industries,” said YB Datuk Seri Dr. Noraini Ahmad.

She added that stronger Malaysia-China cooperation in the palm oil sector would not only enhance bilateral trade performance, but also support industrial innovation, resilient supply chains, and long-term sustainable development between both countries.

The Minister also reaffirmed Malaysia’s commitment towards sustainable production practices through the mandatory Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) certification scheme, which has been fully implemented across the national palm oil supply chain since 2020.

She noted that sustainability, traceability, and responsible production remain critical pillars in strengthening global confidence towards Malaysian palm oil, particularly within evolving international market expectations.

China remains one of Malaysia’s most important palm oil markets and a key contributor 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 approximately MYR10.9 billion.

The Forum also highlighted the evolving structure of China’s oils and fats market, where demand is increasingly shifting toward higher-value, specialised, and performance-driven products. This transition continues to create significant opportunities for Malaysian palm oil across industrial manufacturing, food production, specialty chemicals, and sustainable consumer products.

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 strengthen 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 and high-value solution supporting the next phase of Malaysia-China industrial growth and economic cooperation.