08/09/2012 (4-traders) - Sime Darby Bhd  declined Friday to confirm a newspaper report that the world's largest listed palm oil producer by acreage was seeking final approvals from Peru to start planting oil palm trees.

Financial daily Business Times reported that the South American country had identified 70,000 hectares of land where Sime Darby could commence oil palm plantings, citing Malaysian Foreign Minister Anifah Aman.

"We're always looking for opportunities for growth. With regard to Peru, there is nothing material to report," a company spokeswoman said.

Sime Darby accounts for about 6% of the world's annual CPO output, producing about 2.4 million metric tons of CPO from its estates in Malaysia, Indonesia and Liberia.

Apart from its plantation business, Sime Darby is involved in property development, industrial equipment, the automotive sector, port operations and health care.