Palm Oil's global rise 'unstoppable', says Fadillah
18/11/2025 (New Straits Times), Kuala Lumpur - Palm oil's growth in Indonesia, Latin America and Africa reflects an unstoppable global momentum driven by necessity, efficiency and sustainability, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof.
Fadillah, who also serves as Energy Transition and Water Transformation Minister, said demand is also rising in Sub-Saharan Africa and across Asean.
He said Malaysia, supported by the strength of the Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil certification and full traceability, is well positioned to capture these opportunities.
"Today, palm oil accounts for 30 per cent of global oils and fats, the most widely used vegetable oil in the world.
"Malaysia proudly remains the second-largest producer, contributing 24 per cent of global output in 2024 and 35 per cent of global exports," he said in his keynote address at the Malaysian Palm Oil Board International Palm Oil Congress and Exhibition (PIPOC) 2025 here today.
The event was also attended by Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani.
Fadillah said Malaysia produced 19.34 million tonnes of palm oil in 2024 from only 5.6 million hectares, underscoring the country's world-class productivity as its sustainability standards continue to strengthen.
"In 2024, Malaysia exported 16.9 million tonnes of palm oil to key markets such as India, China, the European Union, Kenya, Turkiye, Japan, and the Philippines.
"Despite a decline in export volume in early 2025, export value increased by 4.9 per cent to RM82.6 billion, reflecting strong market confidence," he said.
Themed "Transforming Today, Empowering Tomorrow Through Innovation", PIPOC 2025 highlights the role of innovation and technology in driving a sustainable future for the palm oil sector.