Kuala Lumpur, 5 June 2025 – The Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC) successfully hosted the Malaysian Palm Oil Forum (MPOF) Philippines 2025 in Manila on 3-4 June 2025, reinforcing Malaysia’s commitment to strengthening trade partnerships and promoting the benefits of sustainable palm oil in the ASEAN region. For the first time, MPOC collaborated with the Malaysian Oleochemicals Manufacturers Group (MOMG) and the United Coconut Association of the Philippines (UCAP) to organise the forum, bringing together key players in the regional oils and fats sector.
The forum attracted over 400 participants, including key stakeholders from the oils and fats sector in both Malaysia and the Philippines. With the active involvement of 16 Malaysian companies and more than 50 industry representatives, the event served as a strategic platform to enhance Malaysian palm oil exports and expand its market presence in the Philippines. This year’s forum also spotlighted lauric oils, aligning with the Philippines’ role as the world’s largest coconut oil producer and Malaysia’s position as a key supplier of palm kernel oil, thereby fostering opportunities for collaboration and growth in the regional lauric value chain.
In his welcome address, H.E. Dato’ Abdul Malik Melvin Castelino, Ambassador of Malaysia to the Philippines, emphasized the importance of strengthening bilateral cooperation in oils and fats trade. In her opening remarks, MPOC CEO, Ms. Belvinder Sron, highlighted the shared potential between both nations and noted that the Philippines is an important growth market under MPOC’s five-year roadmap to expand Malaysian palm oil exports beyond traditional markets. She added that the strategy which is focused on ASEAN, Africa, and the Middle East – has already yielded results, with exports to these regions growing by 24%, from 6 million tonnes in 2020 to 7.5 million tonnes in 2024, marking a shift in Malaysia’s export landscape.
The one-day forum featured eight expert presentations addressing key themes including sustainability, downstream applications, nutrition, and global market outlooks. A lively panel discussion titled “Lauric Oils & Oleochemicals: Market Growth & Innovations” further explored emerging opportunities and innovation trends within the growing Philippines market.
Speaking at the event, MPOC CEO Ms. Belvinder Sron stated, “The Philippines remains one of Malaysia’s most important trade partners in the ASEAN region. In 2024, the Philippines imported around 1.1 million tonnes of palm oil, with Malaysia supplying 61% of its palm oil, solidifying its role as the top supplier.”
The second day of the forum was dedicated to a BizMatch session, which facilitated targeted business engagements between 16 Malaysian palm oil suppliers and buyers from the Philippines. A total of 121 one-on-one meetings took place, generating an estimated RM122 million in potential trade.
Commenting on the BizMatch outcomes, Ms. Belvinder Sron said, “We are encouraged by the strong level of interest shown by Filipino buyers. The BizMatch platform continues to be a powerful tool in creating real commercial opportunities for Malaysian exporters and helping buyers find reliable, high-quality suppliers committed to sustainability and value.”
MPOF Philippines 2025 is part of MPOC’s regional strategy to strengthen Malaysia’s palm oil footprint in key ASEAN markets. The forum reflects MPOC’s aligned focus on deepening engagement in the Philippines, a priority market with growing demand and strong trade potential for Malaysian palm oil.
For more information on MPOC and Malaysian palm oil, visit www.mpoc.org.my
