Istanbul, 8 October 2025 — The Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC) successfully organised the Malaysian Palm Oil Forum (MPOF) Türkiye 2025 in Istanbul, bringing together leaders of the global oils and fats industry with key stakeholders from Türkiye. As the largest importer of Malaysian palm oil in the Middle East and the fifth largest globally, Türkiye’s important role was once again underscored, reaffirming the strategic importance of this partnership in shaping the future of the oils and fats sector.

With the theme “Malaysian Palm Oil: The Driving Force of Growth in Turkey’s Oils and Fats Ecosystem,” the forum served as a platform to deepen commercial relations between the two countries, explore industry growth potential, and identify new avenues for cooperation.

Palm oil has long held an established role in Türkiye’s food industry, forming an essential ingredient in frying oils, margarines, snacks, confectionery, and bakery applications. The hotel, restaurant, and café (HORECA) sector is also a major consumer of palm oil products, reflecting the importance of palm oil in serving Türkiye’s vibrant food culture and dynamic hospitality industry.

In her keynote address, MPOC Chief Executive Officer, Ms. Belvinder Sron, highlighted the significance of the Turkish market and MPOC’s continued commitment to the region. “The Turkish market is very important to us, and this is the second time in two years that MPOC is hosting a major event here showing our dedication to building closer ties and supporting growth in this market. Türkiye remains one of the most dynamic and important destinations for Malaysian palm oil. In 2024, more than 1 million tonnes of palm oil and its derivatives were exported to Türkiye, representing an export value of USD 1.1 billion. This makes Türkiye the fifth largest buyer of Malaysian palm oil globally and the largest market within the Middle East region,” she said.

Supported by leading industry players from both Malaysia and Türkiye, the forum featured a conference with five expert-led paper presentations and a high-level panel discussion. Sessions focused on food safety, nutrition, sustainability, and market dynamics, offering participants valuable insights into emerging trends and opportunities shaping the oils and fats industry in Türkiye and beyond.

The conference also featured Dr. Roger Clemens from the University of Southern California, who addressed common misconceptions about palm oil and emphasised the importance of clear, science-based communication. He highlighted that palm oil is a natural and widely consumed food ingredient, and that Malaysia has made significant progress in meeting international food safety standards, including ensuring that 3-MCPD and related compounds remain well within globally accepted limits.

The forum concluded with a BizMatch session, which facilitated targeted business engagements between Malaysian exporters and Turkish buyers. This session provided a structured platform for companies to establish new partnerships, explore trade opportunities, and strengthen existing collaborations.

The Turkish market forms a crucial component of MPOC’s market diversification strategy, which aims to expand Malaysia’s palm oil presence beyond traditional markets into high-growth regions such as ASEAN, Africa, and the Middle East. “The Middle East, and especially Türkiye, remains central to MPOC’s diversification strategy. We see tremendous potential in this region, both in terms of market expansion and in advancing sustainable practices through close industry partnerships. By deepening our engagement here, we are paving the way for long-term, resilient growth in Malaysian palm oil exports,” Ms. Belvinder noted.

MPOF Türkiye 2025 further strengthened Malaysia’s engagement with a key trading partner, highlighting the country’s continued commitment to expanding its palm oil footprint in strategic markets. Through knowledge-sharing sessions and targeted business matching, the forum reinforced the strong trade relations between Malaysia and Türkiye and underscored the growing opportunities for collaboration in the oils and fats sector.

For more information on MPOC and Malaysian palm oil, visit www.mpoc.org.my