Palm oil news. November 2025
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November 28, 2025
EU should reject automakers' biofuel plea, says campaign group
BRUSSELS, Nov 27 (Reuters) - The European Commission should resist automakers' calls to allow cars to run on biofuels beyond 2035 because they are in short supply and not truly carbon-neutral, campaign group T&E said on Thursday.
New vehicles in the European Union must have no carbon dioxide emissions from 2035 under rules designed to boost sales of electric cars and phase out fossil fuels and the internal combustion engine.
However, automakers are pushing the EU executive to grant an exemption to allow carbon-neutral fuels to continue to power internal combustion engines, plug-in hybrids and range extenders. The Commission will unveil measures designed to support the auto sector on December 10.
In a report published on Thursday, T&E pointed to EU law changes in 2018 that limited the use of crop-based fuels, such as from palm oil or soy, favouring used cooking oil, animals and other waste-based sources, which now account for about half of bio-based diesel in the EU.
However, some 60% of biofuels and 80% of used cooking oil are imported, principally from Asia, T&E said, with rising cases of fraud, such as palm oil passed off as waste.
T&E said biofuels made from food crops typically only save 60% of CO2 emissions compared with fossil fuels because of CO2 emitted in their cultivation and transportation. They also risk leading to deforestation.
More advanced fuels made from municipal waste or sewage sludge are more sustainable, the report said, but are not available in sufficient quantities and are already earmarked for aviation and shipping. If road transport were included, EU demand could be from double to nine times the 2050 sustainable supply.
The T&E report said that allowing biofuel in EU cars could increase CO2 emissions by up to 23% in 2050.
The group advises that biofuels should not be part of the post-2035 solution and, if they are, limited to just 5% of sales of cars powered by truly carbon-neutral e-fuels. Reuters
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EU could trigger spike in biofuel demand if zero-emission car law is changed, warns lobby group
Carbon Pulse
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GAPKI Strengthens Global Partnerships with MoU Signings Across US and Europe
JAKARTA, INDONESIA, November 28, 2025 /EINPresswire.com/ -- The Indonesian Palm Oil Association (GAPKI) concluded a successful week-long mission to the United States and Europe, signing six Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with partner organisations across two continents as part of its ongoing positive campaign for Indonesian palm oil.
A senior GAPKI delegation comprising Chairman Eddy Martono, Deputy Chairman Sany Anthony and International Affairs Director Fadhil Hasan visited the US and four European countries between 18 and 26 November 2025. The mission aimed to strengthen institutional ties, foster dialogue with international stakeholders and promote greater understanding of Indonesia's palm oil sector.
The six MoUs signed during the visit establish frameworks for cooperation spanning trade facilitation, sustainability initiatives, knowledge sharing and technical capacity building. The agreements represent a significant expansion of GAPKI's international footprint and reflect growing interest among global partners in engaging constructively with Indonesian palm oil producers.
The key focus of the mission was identifying opportunities to work collaboratively with international partners to improve market access for Indonesian palm oil. Discussions addressed ways to navigate non-tariff measures affecting trade and ensure Indonesian producers are well-positioned to meet evolving customer preferences in key export markets.
As part of the mission schedule, the delegation also held meetings with Indonesian government officials in the visited countries to coordinate on trade policy and engagement.
"This mission demonstrates GAPKI's commitment to building bridges with international partners based on shared objectives," said Eddy Martono, Chairman of GAPKI. "The six MoUs we have signed will create meaningful opportunities for collaboration on trade, sustainability and capacity development. By working closely with our partners, we can better understand customer expectations, address barriers to trade and ensure Indonesian palm oil continues to meet the highest standards demanded by global markets. We are confident that through open dialogue and constructive engagement, we can work together to address global challenges while ensuring Indonesian palm oil remains a force for economic development and environmental stewardship."
GAPKI represents Indonesia's palm oil producers, who account for approximately 60 per cent of global palm oil production. The association continues to engage with stakeholders worldwide to advance sustainable practices and promote fact-based dialogue on the palm oil sector. Palm Oil Magazine
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Johari: Drop in palm oil exports to China due to price, not geopolitics
KUALA LUMPUR: The decline in Malaysia’s palm oil exports to China is driven primarily by pricing pressures rather than geopolitical factors.
Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani said the recent downturn reflects a widening price gap between palm oil and competing oils, particularly soybean oil, which has reshaped buying patterns in one of Malaysia’s most important markets.
“Our exports to China have come under pressure mainly because palm oil has been trading at a higher price than soybean oil.
“In China, soybean oil is a major edible oil for both consumers and industry. When its price falls, it naturally pulls the market down – but palm oil prices have remained consistently elevated,” he told reporters after attending the Industry Dialogue with Chinese Buyers today.
Johari noted that the price difference between the two commodities had at one point reached US$120 per tonne, a spread he described as significant enough to influence purchasing decisions. The SunMY
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Chinese buyers urged to commit to long-term palm oil deals with Malaysia for better prices
PETALING JAYA, Nov 27 — The Plantation and Commodities Ministry (KPK) has advised palm oil buyers from China to negotiate with local industry players to enjoy better palm oil prices.
Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani said this is following a decline in Malaysia’s palm oil exports to China as a result of lower soybean oil prices.
“The price difference between soybean oil and palm oil is around US$120 (per tonne), so naturally China views soybean oil as an alternative for their domestic use.”
“Therefore, I advise (palm oil buyers from China) to meet and negotiate with Malaysian industry players. If they are able to commit to purchasing (palm oil) over a one-year period, they may be able to obtain a discount,” he told reporters after a dialogue session with palm oil buyers from China here today.
Johari also urged Chinese companies to come to Malaysia and establish a presence here by partnering with Malaysian investors.
“China has extensive technological capabilities across the upstream, midstream and downstream segments, as well as strong research and development that is driving new applications and recognising the benefits of palm oil.”
“Therefore, with such joint ventures, they can become truly Malaysian companies and owned together with local investors. From there, the global market becomes accessible to Malaysia,” he added.
Earlier, the Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC) hosted a trade networking visit for 37 prominent Chinese palm oil buyers to strengthen palm oil partnerships between both nations.
The visit, held from November 25–27, 2025, included key site visits to plantation and refinery facilities where they could gain first-hand insights into Malaysia’s sustainable and high-quality production ecosystem. -- Bernama/ Malay Mail
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MPOC hosts trade networking visit for 37 Chinese buyers
KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC) successfully hosted a Trade Networking Visit for 37 prominent Chinese buyers from Nov 25 to 27, 2025.
Representing major food and non-food sectors across China, MPOC said the delegation participated in a series of engagements aimed at expanding Malaysian palm oil exports and reinforcing confidence in the country's palm oil supply chain.
Commenting on the programme, MPOC chief executive officer Belvinder Sron said the Trade Networking Visit was a key component of MPOC's efforts to strengthen trade collaboration and provide international buyers with direct exposure to Malaysia's palm oil value chain.
"The engagements enabled delegates to better understand Malaysia's commitment to delivering sustainable, reliable, and high-quality supplies to China.
"As one of Malaysia's most strategic export destinations, China underscores the importance of such platforms in responding to evolving demand, building closer buyer engagement, and supporting Malaysia's efforts to regain export momentum in the market," she said in a statement today.
Meanwhile, MPOC said over four days, the group visited key plantations and refining facilities, gaining first-hand insights into Malaysia's sustainable and high-quality production ecosystem.
Delegates also met with Malaysian suppliers and industry leaders to explore market opportunities.
"They further participated in a dedicated BizMatch session, where the buyers engaged directly with key Malaysian suppliers to discuss sourcing needs and strengthen commercial linkages," it said.
MPOC reiterated its commitment to advancing Malaysia–China trade relations and said it would continue to expand market development initiatives, support industry partnerships, and strengthen Malaysia's position as a global leader in sustainable palm oil. NST
EU should reject automakers' biofuel plea, says campaign group
BRUSSELS, Nov 27 (Reuters) - The European Commission should resist automakers' calls to allow cars to run on biofuels beyond 2035 because they are in short supply and not truly carbon-neutral, campaign group T&E said on Thursday.
New vehicles in the European Union must have no carbon dioxide emissions from 2035 under rules designed to boost sales of electric cars and phase out fossil fuels and the internal combustion engine.
However, automakers are pushing the EU executive to grant an exemption to allow carbon-neutral fuels to continue to power internal combustion engines, plug-in hybrids and range extenders. The Commission will unveil measures designed to support the auto sector on December 10.
In a report published on Thursday, T&E pointed to EU law changes in 2018 that limited the use of crop-based fuels, such as from palm oil or soy, favouring used cooking oil, animals and other waste-based sources, which now account for about half of bio-based diesel in the EU.
However, some 60% of biofuels and 80% of used cooking oil are imported, principally from Asia, T&E said, with rising cases of fraud, such as palm oil passed off as waste.
T&E said biofuels made from food crops typically only save 60% of CO2 emissions compared with fossil fuels because of CO2 emitted in their cultivation and transportation. They also risk leading to deforestation.
More advanced fuels made from municipal waste or sewage sludge are more sustainable, the report said, but are not available in sufficient quantities and are already earmarked for aviation and shipping. If road transport were included, EU demand could be from double to nine times the 2050 sustainable supply.
The T&E report said that allowing biofuel in EU cars could increase CO2 emissions by up to 23% in 2050.
The group advises that biofuels should not be part of the post-2035 solution and, if they are, limited to just 5% of sales of cars powered by truly carbon-neutral e-fuels. Reuters
--------
EU could trigger spike in biofuel demand if zero-emission car law is changed, warns lobby group
Carbon Pulse
--------
GAPKI Strengthens Global Partnerships with MoU Signings Across US and Europe
JAKARTA, INDONESIA, November 28, 2025 /EINPresswire.com/ -- The Indonesian Palm Oil Association (GAPKI) concluded a successful week-long mission to the United States and Europe, signing six Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with partner organisations across two continents as part of its ongoing positive campaign for Indonesian palm oil.
A senior GAPKI delegation comprising Chairman Eddy Martono, Deputy Chairman Sany Anthony and International Affairs Director Fadhil Hasan visited the US and four European countries between 18 and 26 November 2025. The mission aimed to strengthen institutional ties, foster dialogue with international stakeholders and promote greater understanding of Indonesia's palm oil sector.
The six MoUs signed during the visit establish frameworks for cooperation spanning trade facilitation, sustainability initiatives, knowledge sharing and technical capacity building. The agreements represent a significant expansion of GAPKI's international footprint and reflect growing interest among global partners in engaging constructively with Indonesian palm oil producers.
The key focus of the mission was identifying opportunities to work collaboratively with international partners to improve market access for Indonesian palm oil. Discussions addressed ways to navigate non-tariff measures affecting trade and ensure Indonesian producers are well-positioned to meet evolving customer preferences in key export markets.
As part of the mission schedule, the delegation also held meetings with Indonesian government officials in the visited countries to coordinate on trade policy and engagement.
"This mission demonstrates GAPKI's commitment to building bridges with international partners based on shared objectives," said Eddy Martono, Chairman of GAPKI. "The six MoUs we have signed will create meaningful opportunities for collaboration on trade, sustainability and capacity development. By working closely with our partners, we can better understand customer expectations, address barriers to trade and ensure Indonesian palm oil continues to meet the highest standards demanded by global markets. We are confident that through open dialogue and constructive engagement, we can work together to address global challenges while ensuring Indonesian palm oil remains a force for economic development and environmental stewardship."
GAPKI represents Indonesia's palm oil producers, who account for approximately 60 per cent of global palm oil production. The association continues to engage with stakeholders worldwide to advance sustainable practices and promote fact-based dialogue on the palm oil sector. Palm Oil Magazine
--------
Johari: Drop in palm oil exports to China due to price, not geopolitics
KUALA LUMPUR: The decline in Malaysia’s palm oil exports to China is driven primarily by pricing pressures rather than geopolitical factors.
Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani said the recent downturn reflects a widening price gap between palm oil and competing oils, particularly soybean oil, which has reshaped buying patterns in one of Malaysia’s most important markets.
“Our exports to China have come under pressure mainly because palm oil has been trading at a higher price than soybean oil.
“In China, soybean oil is a major edible oil for both consumers and industry. When its price falls, it naturally pulls the market down – but palm oil prices have remained consistently elevated,” he told reporters after attending the Industry Dialogue with Chinese Buyers today.
Johari noted that the price difference between the two commodities had at one point reached US$120 per tonne, a spread he described as significant enough to influence purchasing decisions. The SunMY
--------
Chinese buyers urged to commit to long-term palm oil deals with Malaysia for better prices
PETALING JAYA, Nov 27 — The Plantation and Commodities Ministry (KPK) has advised palm oil buyers from China to negotiate with local industry players to enjoy better palm oil prices.
Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani said this is following a decline in Malaysia’s palm oil exports to China as a result of lower soybean oil prices.
“The price difference between soybean oil and palm oil is around US$120 (per tonne), so naturally China views soybean oil as an alternative for their domestic use.”
“Therefore, I advise (palm oil buyers from China) to meet and negotiate with Malaysian industry players. If they are able to commit to purchasing (palm oil) over a one-year period, they may be able to obtain a discount,” he told reporters after a dialogue session with palm oil buyers from China here today.
Johari also urged Chinese companies to come to Malaysia and establish a presence here by partnering with Malaysian investors.
“China has extensive technological capabilities across the upstream, midstream and downstream segments, as well as strong research and development that is driving new applications and recognising the benefits of palm oil.”
“Therefore, with such joint ventures, they can become truly Malaysian companies and owned together with local investors. From there, the global market becomes accessible to Malaysia,” he added.
Earlier, the Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC) hosted a trade networking visit for 37 prominent Chinese palm oil buyers to strengthen palm oil partnerships between both nations.
The visit, held from November 25–27, 2025, included key site visits to plantation and refinery facilities where they could gain first-hand insights into Malaysia’s sustainable and high-quality production ecosystem. -- Bernama/ Malay Mail
--------
MPOC hosts trade networking visit for 37 Chinese buyers
KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC) successfully hosted a Trade Networking Visit for 37 prominent Chinese buyers from Nov 25 to 27, 2025.
Representing major food and non-food sectors across China, MPOC said the delegation participated in a series of engagements aimed at expanding Malaysian palm oil exports and reinforcing confidence in the country's palm oil supply chain.
Commenting on the programme, MPOC chief executive officer Belvinder Sron said the Trade Networking Visit was a key component of MPOC's efforts to strengthen trade collaboration and provide international buyers with direct exposure to Malaysia's palm oil value chain.
"The engagements enabled delegates to better understand Malaysia's commitment to delivering sustainable, reliable, and high-quality supplies to China.
"As one of Malaysia's most strategic export destinations, China underscores the importance of such platforms in responding to evolving demand, building closer buyer engagement, and supporting Malaysia's efforts to regain export momentum in the market," she said in a statement today.
Meanwhile, MPOC said over four days, the group visited key plantations and refining facilities, gaining first-hand insights into Malaysia's sustainable and high-quality production ecosystem.
Delegates also met with Malaysian suppliers and industry leaders to explore market opportunities.
"They further participated in a dedicated BizMatch session, where the buyers engaged directly with key Malaysian suppliers to discuss sourcing needs and strengthen commercial linkages," it said.
MPOC reiterated its commitment to advancing Malaysia–China trade relations and said it would continue to expand market development initiatives, support industry partnerships, and strengthen Malaysia's position as a global leader in sustainable palm oil. NST
November 27, 2025
European Parliament supports year-long deforestation law delay
By Reuters
BRUSSELS, Nov 26 (Reuters) - The European Parliament on Wednesday voted in favour of delaying the implementation of the European Union's deforestation law by one year.
Companies will have an additional year to comply with new EU rules to prevent deforestation, the European Parliament said in a statement.
Large operators and traders must respect the obligations of this regulation as of December 30, 2026, and micro and small enterprises from June 30, 2027.
The ban on imports of cocoa, palm oil and other commodities linked to forest destruction is a key pillar in the EU's green agenda.
The world-first policy aims to end the 10% of global deforestation fuelled by EU consumption of imported soy, beef, palm oil and other products, but has become a politically contested part of Europe's green agenda.
But it faces pushback from some industries and countries that say the measures are costly and logistically challenging.
Critics have previously warned of environmental setbacks.
Food majors such as Nestle (NESN.S), opens new tab, Ferrero and Olam Agri back the law. They warned last month that delaying it endangers forests worldwide and is contrary to the EU's aim of simplifying business rules.
--------
Lufthansa Cargo, CEVA Logistics seal long-term SAF supply agreement CEVA will use SAF in 2025 to cut 8,000 tonnes of CO₂ under a pact running through 2028.
Lufthansa Cargo and CEVA Logistics have signed a binding agreement for the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel, formalising the Memorandum of Understanding they announced in the summer. CEVA committed to using SAF credited in 2025, equal to an 8,000-tonne reduction in CO₂ emissions, with the agreement running until the end of 2028. The deal was signed on 21 November at CEVA Logistics’ Airfreight Annual Strategic Partners Council in Paris. Both companies described the long-term framework agreement as the result of a trusted relationship shaped by openness, continuous exchange and mutual learning. Loïc Gay, Global Air & Ocean Products VP at CEVA Logistics, said the agreement marked an important step in its sustainable partnership with Lufthansa Cargo. He noted that it would help CEVA reduce its emissions and build more sustainable supply chains, adding that transparency, clear standards and reliable certifications were essential.
https://www.stattimes.com/air-cargo/lufthansa-cargo-ceva-logistics-seal-long-term-saf-supply-agreement-1357257
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Palm Oil Waste Can Make Sarawak Wealthy
(Kuching, 26th) The “turning waste into wealth” concept has enabled Sarawak’s palm oil industry to convert waste into biofuel, organic fertilizer, biogas, and activated carbon, aligning with the objectives of the Resource Sustainability and Waste Management Bill 2025.
Serembu state assemblyman Datuk Miro Simu pointed out that the palm oil industry has successfully transformed various wastes into high value-added products, which fits the core spirit of the bill in viewing waste as a resource to generate income through recycling and energy production.
He said: “This innovative approach not only reduces waste and environmental impact, but also creates entirely new revenue sources for the palm oil industry, while promoting the development of a circular economy.
“Through the ‘turning waste into wealth’ concept, we can create a more sustainable future, reducing waste and bringing economic benefits to society.” He made these remarks yesterday during the 19th Sarawak State Assembly meeting while debating the Resource Sustainability and Waste Management Bill 2025.
He noted that wastes such as empty fruit bunches (EFB) can be processed into biomass pellets or briquettes to be used as biofuel replacing coal, thus reducing reliance on non-renewable energy.
“In addition, by-products such as palm shells, palm kernels, palm kernel expeller, and palm decanter cake are rich in protein, and are widely used worldwide as animal feed, thereby effectively reducing waste,” he explained.
He also shared that palm oil mill effluent (POME) can be treated with natural microorganisms and aquatic plants to produce clean energy and treated water, which can be used for agriculture and organic fertilizer production.
“This technology has already been widely used in Peninsular Malaysia and Indonesia and will be introduced to Sarawak through the Sarawak Land Consolidation and Rehabilitation Authority (SALCRA),” he said.
He also pointed out that palm oil waste processed through torrefaction (limited oxygen heating) can be made into activated carbon, which is widely used to filter pollutants in water and air, and can also be made into biochar to improve agricultural soil quality.
He added that according to records, Malaysia produced about 75 million tons of dry biomass annually in 2020.
“At a value of RM200 to RM1000 per ton, the potential revenue from waste could reach RM10 billion to RM15 billion per year.
“The actual figure may be even higher. Based on biomass quantity and its potential per-ton value, this is a colossal economic opportunity worth tens of billions of ringgit annually,” he said.
At the same time, he emphasized that to ensure successful implementation, the government, private sector, and the people must work hand in hand to formulate sustainable waste management policies and ensure orderly execution, as is currently being done with the drafting of this bill.
“The government should also encourage private sector investment in recycling technology and related infrastructure by providing various forms of support including tax incentives, land, and other necessary investment facilities,” he added.
He pointed out that his examples so far only cover the palm oil industry and do not yet include the waste from other sectors, which may also hold equal potential.
“This concept has already contributed billions of ringgit to the economy and created thousands of jobs for our people.
“Therefore, the introduction of this bill is very timely. If it can be implemented in an orderly and systematic manner, the potential future revenue will be even greater, further enhancing the state government’s income,” he said. United Daily
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Work starts on new Malaysian biorefinery joint venture by PETRONAS, Enilive and Euglena
Construction of Pengerang Biorefinery – a joint venture between Malaysian energy group PETRONAS, Japanese biotech company Euglena and Eni subsidiary Enilive of Italy has begun in Malaysia.
The biorefinery would have the capacity to produce about 650,000 tonnes/year of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) and bio-naphtha from used vegetable oils, animal fats and vegetable processing waste upon completion, the companies said on 10 November.
The new facility in Pengerang, Johor, was scheduled to commence operations by the second half of 2028.
PETRONAS executive vice president and downstream CEO Sazali Hamzah said: “The groundbreaking of the Pengerang Biorefinery reflects the collective efforts to drive decarbonisation and advance energy transition in the region.”
Located within the Pengerang Integrated Complex (PIC) in Johor, the biorefinery’s geographical position and access to major international shipping lanes would help it meet biofuel demand, particularly across the Asian region, the companies said.
When announcing the new biorefinery last July, the companies said PETRONAS Mobility Lestari Sdn Bhd (PMLSB), a subsidiary of PETRONAS alongside Enilive, would be the largest shareholders of the joint venture. OFI Magazine
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Palm Oil Waste Innovation Offers New Path for Industry, Sustainability
KBRN, Jakarta: Indonesia’s vast palm oil industry is generating new opportunities for sustainable innovation. Novitri Hastuti, Senior Researcher at the Biomass and Bioproduct Research Center of the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), has unveiled a breakthrough in processing empty fruit bunches (EFB) from palm oil into cellulose derivatives with significant industrial and environmental potential.
As the world’s largest producer of crude palm oil (CPO), Indonesia produces abundant EFB waste. Novitri explained that the waste contains more than 40 percent cellulose, making it highly suitable for conversion into various derivatives, including carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC).
“The cellulose content in EFB, which exceeds 40 percent, can be converted into high-quality CMC,” she said during the 76th ORNAMAT Forum on Tuesday, as quoted on BRIN's official website on Wednesday, November 26, 2025.
One tested application is the use of CMC from EFB as a tomato coating combined with ginger extract. Research shows the coating can preserve freshness for up to 21 days, maintain vitamin C levels, and provide antibacterial activity. This finding opens the door for safe, eco-friendly food coatings.
Beyond food applications, CMC derived from biomass can be used as membranes for filtering batik wastewater, foaming agents in food products, and fat substitutes to produce healthier foods. These diverse uses highlight the broad potential of biomass as a high-value industrial raw material.
Novitri emphasized that Indonesia has a major opportunity to develop cellulose derivatives thanks to the availability of agricultural and plantation residues that remain underutilized. Converting biomass into cellulose products not only creates economic value but also reduces carbon emissions.
“If left to decay, biomass residues can release methane gas, which harms the environment,” she noted.
However, challenges remain. Processing costs are relatively high due to impurities that require complex extraction, and Indonesia’s cellulose processing capacity is still limited. “Although some industries sell CMC, most of the raw materials are imported. This dependence shows we are not yet fully self-reliant,” Novitri explained.
She added that more efficient, energy-saving technology is needed, as current extraction and conversion processes rely on chemicals and high temperatures. Innovation in technology will be critical to lowering production costs and boosting competitiveness.
BRIN is opening opportunities for collaboration to advance downstream research, from laboratory stages to commercial applications. Novitri hopes innovations in cellulose derivatives from EFB will deliver tangible benefits to society, enhance the economic value of Indonesia’s natural resources, and support sustainable development as well as national health resilience. RRI
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European Parliament supports year-long deforestation law delay
By Reuters
BRUSSELS, Nov 26 (Reuters) - The European Parliament on Wednesday voted in favour of delaying the implementation of the European Union's deforestation law by one year.
Companies will have an additional year to comply with new EU rules to prevent deforestation, the European Parliament said in a statement.
Large operators and traders must respect the obligations of this regulation as of December 30, 2026, and micro and small enterprises from June 30, 2027.
The ban on imports of cocoa, palm oil and other commodities linked to forest destruction is a key pillar in the EU's green agenda.
The world-first policy aims to end the 10% of global deforestation fuelled by EU consumption of imported soy, beef, palm oil and other products, but has become a politically contested part of Europe's green agenda.
But it faces pushback from some industries and countries that say the measures are costly and logistically challenging.
Critics have previously warned of environmental setbacks.
Food majors such as Nestle (NESN.S), opens new tab, Ferrero and Olam Agri back the law. They warned last month that delaying it endangers forests worldwide and is contrary to the EU's aim of simplifying business rules.
--------
Lufthansa Cargo, CEVA Logistics seal long-term SAF supply agreement CEVA will use SAF in 2025 to cut 8,000 tonnes of CO₂ under a pact running through 2028.
Lufthansa Cargo and CEVA Logistics have signed a binding agreement for the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel, formalising the Memorandum of Understanding they announced in the summer. CEVA committed to using SAF credited in 2025, equal to an 8,000-tonne reduction in CO₂ emissions, with the agreement running until the end of 2028. The deal was signed on 21 November at CEVA Logistics’ Airfreight Annual Strategic Partners Council in Paris. Both companies described the long-term framework agreement as the result of a trusted relationship shaped by openness, continuous exchange and mutual learning. Loïc Gay, Global Air & Ocean Products VP at CEVA Logistics, said the agreement marked an important step in its sustainable partnership with Lufthansa Cargo. He noted that it would help CEVA reduce its emissions and build more sustainable supply chains, adding that transparency, clear standards and reliable certifications were essential.
https://www.stattimes.com/air-cargo/lufthansa-cargo-ceva-logistics-seal-long-term-saf-supply-agreement-1357257
--------
Palm Oil Waste Can Make Sarawak Wealthy
(Kuching, 26th) The “turning waste into wealth” concept has enabled Sarawak’s palm oil industry to convert waste into biofuel, organic fertilizer, biogas, and activated carbon, aligning with the objectives of the Resource Sustainability and Waste Management Bill 2025.
Serembu state assemblyman Datuk Miro Simu pointed out that the palm oil industry has successfully transformed various wastes into high value-added products, which fits the core spirit of the bill in viewing waste as a resource to generate income through recycling and energy production.
He said: “This innovative approach not only reduces waste and environmental impact, but also creates entirely new revenue sources for the palm oil industry, while promoting the development of a circular economy.
“Through the ‘turning waste into wealth’ concept, we can create a more sustainable future, reducing waste and bringing economic benefits to society.” He made these remarks yesterday during the 19th Sarawak State Assembly meeting while debating the Resource Sustainability and Waste Management Bill 2025.
He noted that wastes such as empty fruit bunches (EFB) can be processed into biomass pellets or briquettes to be used as biofuel replacing coal, thus reducing reliance on non-renewable energy.
“In addition, by-products such as palm shells, palm kernels, palm kernel expeller, and palm decanter cake are rich in protein, and are widely used worldwide as animal feed, thereby effectively reducing waste,” he explained.
He also shared that palm oil mill effluent (POME) can be treated with natural microorganisms and aquatic plants to produce clean energy and treated water, which can be used for agriculture and organic fertilizer production.
“This technology has already been widely used in Peninsular Malaysia and Indonesia and will be introduced to Sarawak through the Sarawak Land Consolidation and Rehabilitation Authority (SALCRA),” he said.
He also pointed out that palm oil waste processed through torrefaction (limited oxygen heating) can be made into activated carbon, which is widely used to filter pollutants in water and air, and can also be made into biochar to improve agricultural soil quality.
He added that according to records, Malaysia produced about 75 million tons of dry biomass annually in 2020.
“At a value of RM200 to RM1000 per ton, the potential revenue from waste could reach RM10 billion to RM15 billion per year.
“The actual figure may be even higher. Based on biomass quantity and its potential per-ton value, this is a colossal economic opportunity worth tens of billions of ringgit annually,” he said.
At the same time, he emphasized that to ensure successful implementation, the government, private sector, and the people must work hand in hand to formulate sustainable waste management policies and ensure orderly execution, as is currently being done with the drafting of this bill.
“The government should also encourage private sector investment in recycling technology and related infrastructure by providing various forms of support including tax incentives, land, and other necessary investment facilities,” he added.
He pointed out that his examples so far only cover the palm oil industry and do not yet include the waste from other sectors, which may also hold equal potential.
“This concept has already contributed billions of ringgit to the economy and created thousands of jobs for our people.
“Therefore, the introduction of this bill is very timely. If it can be implemented in an orderly and systematic manner, the potential future revenue will be even greater, further enhancing the state government’s income,” he said. United Daily
--------
Work starts on new Malaysian biorefinery joint venture by PETRONAS, Enilive and Euglena
Construction of Pengerang Biorefinery – a joint venture between Malaysian energy group PETRONAS, Japanese biotech company Euglena and Eni subsidiary Enilive of Italy has begun in Malaysia.
The biorefinery would have the capacity to produce about 650,000 tonnes/year of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) and bio-naphtha from used vegetable oils, animal fats and vegetable processing waste upon completion, the companies said on 10 November.
The new facility in Pengerang, Johor, was scheduled to commence operations by the second half of 2028.
PETRONAS executive vice president and downstream CEO Sazali Hamzah said: “The groundbreaking of the Pengerang Biorefinery reflects the collective efforts to drive decarbonisation and advance energy transition in the region.”
Located within the Pengerang Integrated Complex (PIC) in Johor, the biorefinery’s geographical position and access to major international shipping lanes would help it meet biofuel demand, particularly across the Asian region, the companies said.
When announcing the new biorefinery last July, the companies said PETRONAS Mobility Lestari Sdn Bhd (PMLSB), a subsidiary of PETRONAS alongside Enilive, would be the largest shareholders of the joint venture. OFI Magazine
--------
Palm Oil Waste Innovation Offers New Path for Industry, Sustainability
KBRN, Jakarta: Indonesia’s vast palm oil industry is generating new opportunities for sustainable innovation. Novitri Hastuti, Senior Researcher at the Biomass and Bioproduct Research Center of the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), has unveiled a breakthrough in processing empty fruit bunches (EFB) from palm oil into cellulose derivatives with significant industrial and environmental potential.
As the world’s largest producer of crude palm oil (CPO), Indonesia produces abundant EFB waste. Novitri explained that the waste contains more than 40 percent cellulose, making it highly suitable for conversion into various derivatives, including carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC).
“The cellulose content in EFB, which exceeds 40 percent, can be converted into high-quality CMC,” she said during the 76th ORNAMAT Forum on Tuesday, as quoted on BRIN's official website on Wednesday, November 26, 2025.
One tested application is the use of CMC from EFB as a tomato coating combined with ginger extract. Research shows the coating can preserve freshness for up to 21 days, maintain vitamin C levels, and provide antibacterial activity. This finding opens the door for safe, eco-friendly food coatings.
Beyond food applications, CMC derived from biomass can be used as membranes for filtering batik wastewater, foaming agents in food products, and fat substitutes to produce healthier foods. These diverse uses highlight the broad potential of biomass as a high-value industrial raw material.
Novitri emphasized that Indonesia has a major opportunity to develop cellulose derivatives thanks to the availability of agricultural and plantation residues that remain underutilized. Converting biomass into cellulose products not only creates economic value but also reduces carbon emissions.
“If left to decay, biomass residues can release methane gas, which harms the environment,” she noted.
However, challenges remain. Processing costs are relatively high due to impurities that require complex extraction, and Indonesia’s cellulose processing capacity is still limited. “Although some industries sell CMC, most of the raw materials are imported. This dependence shows we are not yet fully self-reliant,” Novitri explained.
She added that more efficient, energy-saving technology is needed, as current extraction and conversion processes rely on chemicals and high temperatures. Innovation in technology will be critical to lowering production costs and boosting competitiveness.
BRIN is opening opportunities for collaboration to advance downstream research, from laboratory stages to commercial applications. Novitri hopes innovations in cellulose derivatives from EFB will deliver tangible benefits to society, enhance the economic value of Indonesia’s natural resources, and support sustainable development as well as national health resilience. RRI
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November 26, 2025
Palm oil continues to anchor global food security, edible oils supply
PETALING JAYA: Palm oil remains the most important and affordable edible oil in the global supply chain, underpinning food security, employment and economic development worldwide.
Fastmarkets Palm Oil Analytics Singapore senior analyst Dr Sathia Varqa said palm oil accounts for one-third of global edible oil consumption, surpassing soybean, sunflower and rapeseed oils in the international market.
“Palm oil is highly competitive and affordable. It helps balance rising food prices and provides a stable edible oil supply to millions of consumers around the world,” he said at the recent Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) International Palm Oil Congress and Exhibition 2025 (Pipoc 2025) in Kuala Lumpur.
Sathia delivered a presentation titled “Palm and Lauric Oil Market Outlook 2026”, emphasising that palm oil is not only a food commodity but also a vital income source for millions of smallholders in Malaysia, Indonesia, and other producing nations.
Beyond food, palm oil is now a critical component in sustainable energy policies. Its role in biodiesel production has grown from 10% currently to 25% next year, he said.
“The ability of palm oil to reduce carbon emissions positions palm-based biofuels as an important contributor to green energy targets in producing countries – including Malaysia, which has already implemented the B20 biodiesel programme,” Sathia noted.
However, climate change continues to pose challenges across all agricultural commodities. Even so, palm trees demonstrate greater resilience and faster recovery from extreme weather than soybeans and sunflowers.
Sathia acknowledged several domestic challenges facing Malaysia’s industry, including ageing palms, low productivity, labour shortages, slow mechanisation and the wide performance gap between large estates and smallholder farms.
“These issues will not disappear by 2026. Malaysia needs short-, medium-, and long-term strategies, including accelerated replanting incentives and automation,” he said.
He added that Malaysia is now well-positioned to attract new investments, especially amid land policy uncertainties and rising regulatory risks in Indonesia.
“Malaysia’s advantage is stability. Investors want clarity in land rights, regulations, and governance. This is the right moment for Malaysia to draw new investment,” Sathia said.
Meanwhile, used cooking oil, particularly that derived from palm oil, can be processed and recycled into new forms of energy, including sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).
EcoCeres Renewable Fuels Sdn Bhd, a clean-energy company from China, is advancing this innovative pathway.
The company has established an operational plant in Johor with a production capacity of about 1,000 tonnes of products per day – comparable to its facilities in China.
EcoCeres Renewable Fuels executive vice-president of operations Dannis Poon said the company is planning a nationwide public awareness campaign to highlight the benefits of SAF.
“We hope that by January 2026, this campaign will encourage Malaysians to participate in collecting used cooking oil to recycle it into energy,” he said.
“For most people, this oil is simply waste, but for us, it is valuable because it can be converted into fuels, including SAF. We do not use fossil oils or earth-extracted resources. Instead, we process used cooking oil (from households and restaurants), industrial waste oil and food-grade oil residues as our primary feedstocks.”
Poon delivered these remarks during his talk titled “Latest Developments in Aviation Decarbonisation: Opportunities and Challenges” at Pipoc 2025.
EcoCeres deliberately avoids edible oils to prevent competition with the food sector and to minimise the carbon footprint associated with cultivation. Through its proprietary hydrotreating technology, waste oils are refined into several products: SAF for aviation, renewable diesel for industrial and transportation use and naphtha for the petrochemical sector.
“At present, the SAF we produce is supplied to international airlines such as Cathay Pacific, Hong Kong Airlines and British Airways under long-term contracts,” Poon said.
Explaining why Johor was selected for its expanded operations, he noted that the company evaluated several Asian countries, including Thailand and Indonesia, but ultimately found Malaysia’s investment-friendly policies more attractive.
“The existing oil and gas infrastructure, access to waste oil from the local food industry, and a business environment that aligns well with regional operations were key factors,” he added.
More than 99% of the Johor plant’s workforce comprises Malaysians, which he said reflects the company’s commitment to supporting local socioeconomic development. The SunMY
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Indonesia increases patrols in Sumatra national park after attacks on task force
JAKARTA - Indonesia has sent reinforcements to a national park on Sumatra island after a forestry task force command post was destroyed in response to oil palm plantation seizures, the Forestry Ministry said on Nov 25.
In 2025, President Prabowo Subianto’s forestry task force, which includes military personnel and state prosecutors, launched a crackdown on oil palm plantations they say have been running illegally in forest areas, an operation the palm oil industry says could disrupt global supplies.
“This reinforcement aims to re-secure the tactical command post, prevent further damage, and ensure that the operation to restore order and restore the ecosystem continues to run smoothly,” the ministry said in a statement.
An additional 30 soldiers and 20 forestry police personnel have been deployed to Tesso Nilo National Park in Riau province, the ministry said, to intensify patrols, guard areas prone to encroachment and monitor guard posts.
Endangered Sumatran elephant
The 83,000ha national park is home to the critically endangered Sumatran elephant and has faced years of encroachment, the government said.
The ministry said the task force had seized 4,700ha of illegal oil palm in the Tesso Nilo National Park area, dismantled access to the plantations, and demolished buildings related to the illegal oil palm operation in the area.
“Our enforcement operations in Tesso Nilo are designed to break the chain of business that is destroying the area, not to sacrifice the people. Our focus is on landowners, financiers and heavy equipment operators who trade in state forest areas,” said senior Forestry Ministry official Dwi Januarto Nugroho.
Thousands of residents in Riau’s oil palm belt protested last week against the takeover of their plantations by the government task force trying to restore the ecosystem in an 8,000ha area inside the park.
Across the archipelago, around 3.7 million ha of plantations have been seized, with nearly half transferred to the nascent state-run firm Agrinas Palma Nusantara, transforming it into the world’s largest oil palm company by land size. REUTERS. Straits Times
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European Union’s deforestation delay bad news for canola
The crop would have been a significant beneficiary of regulations to curtail imports resulting from deforestation
SASKATOON — The fate of a regulation that could boost canola oil demand in the European Union will be determined before the end of 2025.
The European Council recently agreed to delay implementation of the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) for another year.
The council will now start negotiations with the European Parliament to reach a final agreement on the regulation, which was due to come into force Dec. 30, 2025.
Why it Matters: The regulation has the potential to boost canola oil consumption in the EU because it penalizes palm oil.
The council said the aim of the one-year delay is to simplify implementation of the regulation and allow operators, traders and authorities to adequately prepare.
If its proposal is accepted by the EU Parliament, the provisions of the EUDR would apply on Dec. 30, 2026, for medium and large operators and June 30, 2026, for micro and small operators.
The goal of the regulation is to ensure commodities such as cattle, cocoa, coffee, palm oil, rubber, soybeans, wood and their derived products have not caused deforestation or forest degradation.
This would be the second time that the regulation has been delayed by one year, much to the chagrin of environmental groups.
“Claims by member states that ‘tackling deforestation remains a priority’ are a blatant distortion: they have just agreed to water down and delay the EUDR,” Anke Schulmeister-Oldenhove, manager for forests at the World Wildlife Fund’s European policy office, said in a press release.
“With this vote, the EUDR is very close to becoming a theoretical thinking exercise rather than a concrete step towards zero deforestation.”
The Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC) welcomed the proposed delay but expressed lingering concerns about the regulation.
“MPOC reiterates that the Malaysian palm oil industry has worked tirelessly to transform itself in recent years, implementing robust sustainability frameworks and achieving measurable reductions in deforestation,” the group said in a press release.
“Despite these efforts, the current EUDR framework contains numerous operational deficiencies, which fail to reward responsible leadership in sustainable practices.”
The EU is the third biggest export market for Malaysian palm oil, behind India and China. It imported 2.66 million tonnes of the product in 2023.
Malaysia’s palm oil producers say the EUDR would “significantly impact” palm oil use in that market.
Marlene Boersch, managing partner of Mercantile Consulting Venture, said the regulation would provide canola with a much-needed shot in the arm.
“I have no doubt that it would support the use of canola oil to some degree,” she said
The proposed delay could not have come at a worse time with Canada shut out of the Chinese market and record rapeseed/canola production in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.
“We’re just thirsting for something positive,” said Boersch.
She speculates that vegetable oil users lobbied EU member states for the delay, and there appears to be more of a political appetite to entertain such suggestions these days.
“We have lost some of the momentum to really follow through with some of these environmental things for budgetary reasons,” said Boersch.
The good news is there is still plenty of long-term optimism for canola oil and other vegetable oils.
Deutsche Landwirtschafts-Gesellschaft’s Agrarticker reports that Oil World’s managing director David Mielke had some encouraging words during his recent presentation at the Rapool conference.
He noted that global consumption of vegetable oil exceeded production in 2023-24, leading to a reduction in global oil and fat stocks that is going to become even more pronounced in 2024-25, according to a translation of the Agrarticker article. Producer
Palm oil continues to anchor global food security, edible oils supply
PETALING JAYA: Palm oil remains the most important and affordable edible oil in the global supply chain, underpinning food security, employment and economic development worldwide.
Fastmarkets Palm Oil Analytics Singapore senior analyst Dr Sathia Varqa said palm oil accounts for one-third of global edible oil consumption, surpassing soybean, sunflower and rapeseed oils in the international market.
“Palm oil is highly competitive and affordable. It helps balance rising food prices and provides a stable edible oil supply to millions of consumers around the world,” he said at the recent Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) International Palm Oil Congress and Exhibition 2025 (Pipoc 2025) in Kuala Lumpur.
Sathia delivered a presentation titled “Palm and Lauric Oil Market Outlook 2026”, emphasising that palm oil is not only a food commodity but also a vital income source for millions of smallholders in Malaysia, Indonesia, and other producing nations.
Beyond food, palm oil is now a critical component in sustainable energy policies. Its role in biodiesel production has grown from 10% currently to 25% next year, he said.
“The ability of palm oil to reduce carbon emissions positions palm-based biofuels as an important contributor to green energy targets in producing countries – including Malaysia, which has already implemented the B20 biodiesel programme,” Sathia noted.
However, climate change continues to pose challenges across all agricultural commodities. Even so, palm trees demonstrate greater resilience and faster recovery from extreme weather than soybeans and sunflowers.
Sathia acknowledged several domestic challenges facing Malaysia’s industry, including ageing palms, low productivity, labour shortages, slow mechanisation and the wide performance gap between large estates and smallholder farms.
“These issues will not disappear by 2026. Malaysia needs short-, medium-, and long-term strategies, including accelerated replanting incentives and automation,” he said.
He added that Malaysia is now well-positioned to attract new investments, especially amid land policy uncertainties and rising regulatory risks in Indonesia.
“Malaysia’s advantage is stability. Investors want clarity in land rights, regulations, and governance. This is the right moment for Malaysia to draw new investment,” Sathia said.
Meanwhile, used cooking oil, particularly that derived from palm oil, can be processed and recycled into new forms of energy, including sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).
EcoCeres Renewable Fuels Sdn Bhd, a clean-energy company from China, is advancing this innovative pathway.
The company has established an operational plant in Johor with a production capacity of about 1,000 tonnes of products per day – comparable to its facilities in China.
EcoCeres Renewable Fuels executive vice-president of operations Dannis Poon said the company is planning a nationwide public awareness campaign to highlight the benefits of SAF.
“We hope that by January 2026, this campaign will encourage Malaysians to participate in collecting used cooking oil to recycle it into energy,” he said.
“For most people, this oil is simply waste, but for us, it is valuable because it can be converted into fuels, including SAF. We do not use fossil oils or earth-extracted resources. Instead, we process used cooking oil (from households and restaurants), industrial waste oil and food-grade oil residues as our primary feedstocks.”
Poon delivered these remarks during his talk titled “Latest Developments in Aviation Decarbonisation: Opportunities and Challenges” at Pipoc 2025.
EcoCeres deliberately avoids edible oils to prevent competition with the food sector and to minimise the carbon footprint associated with cultivation. Through its proprietary hydrotreating technology, waste oils are refined into several products: SAF for aviation, renewable diesel for industrial and transportation use and naphtha for the petrochemical sector.
“At present, the SAF we produce is supplied to international airlines such as Cathay Pacific, Hong Kong Airlines and British Airways under long-term contracts,” Poon said.
Explaining why Johor was selected for its expanded operations, he noted that the company evaluated several Asian countries, including Thailand and Indonesia, but ultimately found Malaysia’s investment-friendly policies more attractive.
“The existing oil and gas infrastructure, access to waste oil from the local food industry, and a business environment that aligns well with regional operations were key factors,” he added.
More than 99% of the Johor plant’s workforce comprises Malaysians, which he said reflects the company’s commitment to supporting local socioeconomic development. The SunMY
--------
Indonesia increases patrols in Sumatra national park after attacks on task force
JAKARTA - Indonesia has sent reinforcements to a national park on Sumatra island after a forestry task force command post was destroyed in response to oil palm plantation seizures, the Forestry Ministry said on Nov 25.
In 2025, President Prabowo Subianto’s forestry task force, which includes military personnel and state prosecutors, launched a crackdown on oil palm plantations they say have been running illegally in forest areas, an operation the palm oil industry says could disrupt global supplies.
“This reinforcement aims to re-secure the tactical command post, prevent further damage, and ensure that the operation to restore order and restore the ecosystem continues to run smoothly,” the ministry said in a statement.
An additional 30 soldiers and 20 forestry police personnel have been deployed to Tesso Nilo National Park in Riau province, the ministry said, to intensify patrols, guard areas prone to encroachment and monitor guard posts.
Endangered Sumatran elephant
The 83,000ha national park is home to the critically endangered Sumatran elephant and has faced years of encroachment, the government said.
The ministry said the task force had seized 4,700ha of illegal oil palm in the Tesso Nilo National Park area, dismantled access to the plantations, and demolished buildings related to the illegal oil palm operation in the area.
“Our enforcement operations in Tesso Nilo are designed to break the chain of business that is destroying the area, not to sacrifice the people. Our focus is on landowners, financiers and heavy equipment operators who trade in state forest areas,” said senior Forestry Ministry official Dwi Januarto Nugroho.
Thousands of residents in Riau’s oil palm belt protested last week against the takeover of their plantations by the government task force trying to restore the ecosystem in an 8,000ha area inside the park.
Across the archipelago, around 3.7 million ha of plantations have been seized, with nearly half transferred to the nascent state-run firm Agrinas Palma Nusantara, transforming it into the world’s largest oil palm company by land size. REUTERS. Straits Times
--------
European Union’s deforestation delay bad news for canola
The crop would have been a significant beneficiary of regulations to curtail imports resulting from deforestation
SASKATOON — The fate of a regulation that could boost canola oil demand in the European Union will be determined before the end of 2025.
The European Council recently agreed to delay implementation of the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) for another year.
The council will now start negotiations with the European Parliament to reach a final agreement on the regulation, which was due to come into force Dec. 30, 2025.
Why it Matters: The regulation has the potential to boost canola oil consumption in the EU because it penalizes palm oil.
The council said the aim of the one-year delay is to simplify implementation of the regulation and allow operators, traders and authorities to adequately prepare.
If its proposal is accepted by the EU Parliament, the provisions of the EUDR would apply on Dec. 30, 2026, for medium and large operators and June 30, 2026, for micro and small operators.
The goal of the regulation is to ensure commodities such as cattle, cocoa, coffee, palm oil, rubber, soybeans, wood and their derived products have not caused deforestation or forest degradation.
This would be the second time that the regulation has been delayed by one year, much to the chagrin of environmental groups.
“Claims by member states that ‘tackling deforestation remains a priority’ are a blatant distortion: they have just agreed to water down and delay the EUDR,” Anke Schulmeister-Oldenhove, manager for forests at the World Wildlife Fund’s European policy office, said in a press release.
“With this vote, the EUDR is very close to becoming a theoretical thinking exercise rather than a concrete step towards zero deforestation.”
The Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC) welcomed the proposed delay but expressed lingering concerns about the regulation.
“MPOC reiterates that the Malaysian palm oil industry has worked tirelessly to transform itself in recent years, implementing robust sustainability frameworks and achieving measurable reductions in deforestation,” the group said in a press release.
“Despite these efforts, the current EUDR framework contains numerous operational deficiencies, which fail to reward responsible leadership in sustainable practices.”
The EU is the third biggest export market for Malaysian palm oil, behind India and China. It imported 2.66 million tonnes of the product in 2023.
Malaysia’s palm oil producers say the EUDR would “significantly impact” palm oil use in that market.
Marlene Boersch, managing partner of Mercantile Consulting Venture, said the regulation would provide canola with a much-needed shot in the arm.
“I have no doubt that it would support the use of canola oil to some degree,” she said
The proposed delay could not have come at a worse time with Canada shut out of the Chinese market and record rapeseed/canola production in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.
“We’re just thirsting for something positive,” said Boersch.
She speculates that vegetable oil users lobbied EU member states for the delay, and there appears to be more of a political appetite to entertain such suggestions these days.
“We have lost some of the momentum to really follow through with some of these environmental things for budgetary reasons,” said Boersch.
The good news is there is still plenty of long-term optimism for canola oil and other vegetable oils.
Deutsche Landwirtschafts-Gesellschaft’s Agrarticker reports that Oil World’s managing director David Mielke had some encouraging words during his recent presentation at the Rapool conference.
He noted that global consumption of vegetable oil exceeded production in 2023-24, leading to a reduction in global oil and fat stocks that is going to become even more pronounced in 2024-25, according to a translation of the Agrarticker article. Producer
November 25, 2025
Plantation and Commodities Ministry (KPK) plans to request membership to International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to provide a fact-based narrative of the palm oil industry.
KPK deputy secretary-general (plantation and commodities) Datuk Razali Mohamad said this would improve communications about the industry’s sustainable practices in Malaysia.
“It is a crucial step so that we can tell the world that Malaysia’s palm oil industry is sustainable, complies with the law and does not cause environmental destruction or displace wildlife.”
He said this after officiating the last leg of Malaysia-wide roadshow series Jelajah Sawit Hijau, by Malaysian Palm Oil Green Conservation Foundation (MPOGCF), in Kuala Lumpur.
The series, themed “Conservation is the Key to Sustainable Palm Oil”, combines science and sustainability with entertainment to raise awareness among Malaysians from all walks of life.
Razali said the welfare of industry players was also taken care of through the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB), which supervises more than 200,000 independent smallholders and those under Federal Land Development Authority (Felda), Federal Land Consolidation and Rehabilitation Authority (Felcra) and Rubber Industry Smallholders Development Authority (Risda).
“The welfare of smallholders is taken care of and training is provided so that planting practices comply with standards.”
Razali added that over RM10mil was spent annually on conservation programmes such as replanting and wildlife protection by smallholders.
The event also saw the unveiling of a 94-page Panduan Pengecaman Tapak Hidupan Liar di Lapangan (Field guide to the identification of wildlife tracks).
Razali said the publication aimed to inform local estate managers and smallholders about wildlife species within the oil palm ecosystem.
“Once they can identify the animals, whether dangerous or friendly, they will be better prepared to face any situation.”
The roadshow was organised in collaboration with Suria FM and Majoriti, the Malay language digital news portal of Star Media Group.
There were several booths by MPOGCF’s strategic partners such as Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan), Earthworm Foundation, Felda, Malaysian Palm Oil Council, Nature Sustainable Ecosystem Society, Johor Plantations Group and Universiti Sains Malaysia. The Star
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Malaysia: Palm oil company suspends land clearing activities in disputed areas with Indigenous Peoples after lawsuit; includes community comments
"Cautious win for Indigenous groups in Malaysia as palm oil firm pauses forest clearing", 11 November 2025
Indigenous activists in central Sarawak state in Malaysian Borneo have declared victory, at least temporarily, after palm oil firm Urun Plantations agreed to a moratorium on clearing land in a disputed area.
Penan and Kenyah residents of the Long Urun region alleged that the plantation, which is certified as sustainable, was clearing natural forest that should remain standing — even as the plantation company maintains any land clearing was within legal guidelines.
According to a press release from Indigenous rights and environmental protection NGO SAVE Rivers, community leaders reported that the Glenealy/Samling Belaga Mill, the last remaining mill within 50 kilometers (30 miles) still buying palm fruit from Urun Plantations, has suspended sourcing from the plantation.
… Eileen Clare Ipa, a resident of Long Urun's Uma Pawa village, told … she was glad the company had stopped cutting trees, but she saw them still planting oil palm and doing maintenance on the cleared area. Ipa said she wants the company to leave that area to return to forest.
"I'm happy to hear that but at the same time I feel the moratorium, it is temporary, it is not permanent, so who knows? Three months, one year later, they could cut [the forest] down again," she said.
… Satellite imagery from Global Forest Watch shows substantial clearing directly east of Urun Plantations' site headquarters, in an area roughly 3 km (about 2 mi) wide, which increased in 2023 and 2024. The Borneo Project also shared photos of deforestation in a similar location, east of Urun Plantations' site office.
In a response…, prior to the announcement of the moratorium, Urun Plantations told… that its workers were replanting land that was not natural forest, but rather an area previously developed between 1999 and 2009. In an email, Henry Choo, group general manager for parent company Sin Heng Chan (Malaya) Sdn. Bhd., added the company had investigated the complaint this year, in line with a company policy to investigate all complaints regarding customary land claims. [View Urun Plantations' full response here .]
… Residents from Long Urun also filed a letter of complaint to the MSPO's dispute resolution board in May, alleging the forest clearing was illegal and occurred without sufficient community input…
Residents have taken their dispute further, filing a lawsuit at Sarawak's High Court in Bintulu in late June, alleging that both Urun Plantations and local officials have disrespected local Indigenous rights in the Long Urun area.
According to a disclosure to investors by parent company Sin Heng Chan, the lawsuit, filed by a law firm led by Senator Anyit, calls into question the company's entire provisional lease, suggesting that it has conflicted with the community's native customary land rights that span 54,478 hectares (134,618 acres), and thus ordering an injunction on development activity in the region.
The lawsuit also alleges that local officials — including from the Sarawak state government, land survey department, village headmen and village security and development committee — violated residents' rights and deceived them…Business Human Rights
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Palm Oil Supplier Commits To SAF For International Shipment
Pacific Inter-Link Sdn. Bhd. (PIL) has joined DHL Express’ GoGreen Plus programme to reduce the carbon footprint of its time-definite international shipments through the use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). The collaboration is expected to cut emissions by up to 90%, aligning with PIL’s long-term sustainability strategy.
“SAF holds tremendous potential in advancing climate goals while supporting the evolving demands of air freight,” said Sriram Iyer, Chief Operating Officer of PIL.
The COO continued, “As the transition towards net zero accelerates, renewable fuels offer a viable pathway to decarbonisation. Our collaboration with DHL Express underscores PIL’s ongoing commitment to green operations and carbon efficiency.”
PIL, a global leader in the edible oil and consumer goods sector, actively manages its Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions in line with the GHG Protocol. By subscribing to GoGreen Plus, the company also addresses Scope 3 emissions, which cover indirect greenhouse gas releases from supply chain activities.
Sustainable aviation fuel is produced from feedstocks such as used cooking oil and other residues and can cut lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80% compared to conventional jet fuel. DHL’s GoGreen Plus service uses a ‘book & claim’ approach, allowing environmental benefits from SAF to be allocated to customers even if their shipments are not physically transported with these fuels.
“We are proud to welcome Pacific Inter-Link on board GoGreen Plus in building increasing perception and adoption of SAF as a key lever for the low-carbon future of aviation,” said Julian Neo, Managing Director of DHL Express Malaysia and Brunei.
Julian concluded, “Together, we are taking important steps to scale this technology and accelerate the shift to solutions that will reduce emissions in our logistics operations. We will continue to propel the momentum forward for the improved production, availability and accessibility of SAF.”
Launched in 2023, GoGreen Plus is supported by SAF contracts with partners including BP, Neste, Cosmo Energy and Cathay Group. As air freight accounts for approximately 70% of DHL Group’s carbon footprint, the adoption of sustainable air transportation solutions is critical for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in logistics. Business Today
Plantation and Commodities Ministry (KPK) plans to request membership to International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to provide a fact-based narrative of the palm oil industry.
KPK deputy secretary-general (plantation and commodities) Datuk Razali Mohamad said this would improve communications about the industry’s sustainable practices in Malaysia.
“It is a crucial step so that we can tell the world that Malaysia’s palm oil industry is sustainable, complies with the law and does not cause environmental destruction or displace wildlife.”
He said this after officiating the last leg of Malaysia-wide roadshow series Jelajah Sawit Hijau, by Malaysian Palm Oil Green Conservation Foundation (MPOGCF), in Kuala Lumpur.
The series, themed “Conservation is the Key to Sustainable Palm Oil”, combines science and sustainability with entertainment to raise awareness among Malaysians from all walks of life.
Razali said the welfare of industry players was also taken care of through the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB), which supervises more than 200,000 independent smallholders and those under Federal Land Development Authority (Felda), Federal Land Consolidation and Rehabilitation Authority (Felcra) and Rubber Industry Smallholders Development Authority (Risda).
“The welfare of smallholders is taken care of and training is provided so that planting practices comply with standards.”
Razali added that over RM10mil was spent annually on conservation programmes such as replanting and wildlife protection by smallholders.
The event also saw the unveiling of a 94-page Panduan Pengecaman Tapak Hidupan Liar di Lapangan (Field guide to the identification of wildlife tracks).
Razali said the publication aimed to inform local estate managers and smallholders about wildlife species within the oil palm ecosystem.
“Once they can identify the animals, whether dangerous or friendly, they will be better prepared to face any situation.”
The roadshow was organised in collaboration with Suria FM and Majoriti, the Malay language digital news portal of Star Media Group.
There were several booths by MPOGCF’s strategic partners such as Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan), Earthworm Foundation, Felda, Malaysian Palm Oil Council, Nature Sustainable Ecosystem Society, Johor Plantations Group and Universiti Sains Malaysia. The Star
--------
Malaysia: Palm oil company suspends land clearing activities in disputed areas with Indigenous Peoples after lawsuit; includes community comments
"Cautious win for Indigenous groups in Malaysia as palm oil firm pauses forest clearing", 11 November 2025
Indigenous activists in central Sarawak state in Malaysian Borneo have declared victory, at least temporarily, after palm oil firm Urun Plantations agreed to a moratorium on clearing land in a disputed area.
Penan and Kenyah residents of the Long Urun region alleged that the plantation, which is certified as sustainable, was clearing natural forest that should remain standing — even as the plantation company maintains any land clearing was within legal guidelines.
According to a press release from Indigenous rights and environmental protection NGO SAVE Rivers, community leaders reported that the Glenealy/Samling Belaga Mill, the last remaining mill within 50 kilometers (30 miles) still buying palm fruit from Urun Plantations, has suspended sourcing from the plantation.
… Eileen Clare Ipa, a resident of Long Urun's Uma Pawa village, told … she was glad the company had stopped cutting trees, but she saw them still planting oil palm and doing maintenance on the cleared area. Ipa said she wants the company to leave that area to return to forest.
"I'm happy to hear that but at the same time I feel the moratorium, it is temporary, it is not permanent, so who knows? Three months, one year later, they could cut [the forest] down again," she said.
… Satellite imagery from Global Forest Watch shows substantial clearing directly east of Urun Plantations' site headquarters, in an area roughly 3 km (about 2 mi) wide, which increased in 2023 and 2024. The Borneo Project also shared photos of deforestation in a similar location, east of Urun Plantations' site office.
In a response…, prior to the announcement of the moratorium, Urun Plantations told… that its workers were replanting land that was not natural forest, but rather an area previously developed between 1999 and 2009. In an email, Henry Choo, group general manager for parent company Sin Heng Chan (Malaya) Sdn. Bhd., added the company had investigated the complaint this year, in line with a company policy to investigate all complaints regarding customary land claims. [View Urun Plantations' full response here .]
… Residents from Long Urun also filed a letter of complaint to the MSPO's dispute resolution board in May, alleging the forest clearing was illegal and occurred without sufficient community input…
Residents have taken their dispute further, filing a lawsuit at Sarawak's High Court in Bintulu in late June, alleging that both Urun Plantations and local officials have disrespected local Indigenous rights in the Long Urun area.
According to a disclosure to investors by parent company Sin Heng Chan, the lawsuit, filed by a law firm led by Senator Anyit, calls into question the company's entire provisional lease, suggesting that it has conflicted with the community's native customary land rights that span 54,478 hectares (134,618 acres), and thus ordering an injunction on development activity in the region.
The lawsuit also alleges that local officials — including from the Sarawak state government, land survey department, village headmen and village security and development committee — violated residents' rights and deceived them…Business Human Rights
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Palm Oil Supplier Commits To SAF For International Shipment
Pacific Inter-Link Sdn. Bhd. (PIL) has joined DHL Express’ GoGreen Plus programme to reduce the carbon footprint of its time-definite international shipments through the use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). The collaboration is expected to cut emissions by up to 90%, aligning with PIL’s long-term sustainability strategy.
“SAF holds tremendous potential in advancing climate goals while supporting the evolving demands of air freight,” said Sriram Iyer, Chief Operating Officer of PIL.
The COO continued, “As the transition towards net zero accelerates, renewable fuels offer a viable pathway to decarbonisation. Our collaboration with DHL Express underscores PIL’s ongoing commitment to green operations and carbon efficiency.”
PIL, a global leader in the edible oil and consumer goods sector, actively manages its Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions in line with the GHG Protocol. By subscribing to GoGreen Plus, the company also addresses Scope 3 emissions, which cover indirect greenhouse gas releases from supply chain activities.
Sustainable aviation fuel is produced from feedstocks such as used cooking oil and other residues and can cut lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80% compared to conventional jet fuel. DHL’s GoGreen Plus service uses a ‘book & claim’ approach, allowing environmental benefits from SAF to be allocated to customers even if their shipments are not physically transported with these fuels.
“We are proud to welcome Pacific Inter-Link on board GoGreen Plus in building increasing perception and adoption of SAF as a key lever for the low-carbon future of aviation,” said Julian Neo, Managing Director of DHL Express Malaysia and Brunei.
Julian concluded, “Together, we are taking important steps to scale this technology and accelerate the shift to solutions that will reduce emissions in our logistics operations. We will continue to propel the momentum forward for the improved production, availability and accessibility of SAF.”
Launched in 2023, GoGreen Plus is supported by SAF contracts with partners including BP, Neste, Cosmo Energy and Cathay Group. As air freight accounts for approximately 70% of DHL Group’s carbon footprint, the adoption of sustainable air transportation solutions is critical for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in logistics. Business Today
November 24, 2025
Malaysia’s first commercial production of SAF marked major leap in country’s efforts to decarbonise aviation: Minister
Pasir Gudang: Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani said Malaysia’s first commercial production of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) represents a major step in the country’s efforts to reduce aviation emissions and strengthen its position in the regional clean-fuel market, reports New Straits Times.
He said the launch comes at the right time, as sectors that are difficult to decarbonise — especially aviation — face increasing pressure to meet global net-zero goals.
“To achieve our national targets, we must also address high-emission sectors, including aviation.
“Globally, the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) has set an ambitious goal to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, and SAF has been identified as a key way to reduce emissions in this industry,” Johari said during his working visit to the facility today.
Malaysia has committed to reaching carbon neutrality by 2050 under the Paris Agreement.
SAF is a low-carbon jet fuel made from waste and renewable materials. It can cut aviation emissions without requiring changes to aircraft or airport facilities.
EcoCeres Renewable Fuels Sdn Bhd, the country’s first SAF producer, has been supplying commercial-grade fuel from its Tanjung Langsat plant since October. The facility is capable of producing up to 350,000 tonnes of SAF per year, establishing Malaysia as an emerging supplier of low-carbon aviation fuel in the region.
Those present at the launch included the ministry’s secretary-general Datuk Yusran Shah Mohd Yusof; Biomass and Biofuel Division undersecretary Dr Sang Yew Ngin; EcoCeres co-chairman James Tam; and executive vice-president Dannis Poon.
Johari noted that several national policy documents support the SAF initiative, such as the Aviation Decarbonisation Blueprint and the National Energy Transition Roadmap, which lay out phased plans to cut emissions in the aviation sector and place SAF at the centre of these efforts.
“To strengthen our commitment, the ministry is working with industry players and the transport ministry to introduce a national SAF blending mandate. The plan includes an initial requirement of 1 per cent SAF for flights departing Kuala Lumpur International Airport,” he said.
He also said that securing enough raw materials will be essential. Bioenergy Times
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European buyers show no negative perception of palm oil as sustainable aviation fuel, says Johari Ghani
JOHOR BAHRU (Nov 24): There is no negative perception among European buyers regarding the suitability of palm oil as a feedstock for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), said Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani.
The minister said used cooking oil (UCO), the primary feedstock for SAF, is highly rated in Europe and recognised as a high-quality raw material.
“Malaysia also has the Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) certification, which ensures that every metric ton of palm oil is sustainably produced and instils confidence in international markets,” he added.
Johari made the remarks to reporters following a visit to the country’s first SAF biorefinery, Ecoceres Renewable Fuels Sdn Bhd, in Tanjung Langsat, Johor.
Earlier reports had raised concerns about the suitability of palm oil as an SAF feedstock, particularly due to negative perceptions among European buyers over deforestation and environmental sustainability.
He said Malaysia, as the world’s second-largest palm oil producer, has an advantage in raw material supply for the SAF industry.
“The SAF initiative is also part of Malaysia’s strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and can be considered a low-carbon business activity,” he said.
Johari added that the ministry has been actively engaging stakeholders and working with the Ministry of Transport to develop a national SAF blending mandate, with plans to introduce an initial 1% SAF blending requirement for flights departing from the Kuala Lumpur International Airport.
“Since July 2023, the ministry, together with PETRONAS Dagangan Bhd (KL:PETDAG), has organised awareness programmes to promote UCO collection.
“As of September this year, more than 1,200 tonnes of UCO have been collected from nearly 66,000 customers at 89 selected Petronas petrol stations nationwide,” he said.
The Ecoceres plant in Johor is Malaysia’s first SAF biorefinery, with a licensed capacity of 350,000 metric tons per year, and began producing SAF last month. The Edge
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Pertamina Secures $2.6 Billion Upstream Oil and Gas Deals on Sidelines of G20 Summit
Jakarta. State-owned energy company Pertamina has secured $2.6 billion in upstream oil and gas investment agreements with its business partners on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Johannesburg, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto announced on Saturday.
Airlangga did not disclose further details of the collaboration, noting that the agreements remain under follow-up discussion.
“These are ongoing negotiations between Pertamina and its partners. That is all we can share for now,” Airlangga said during a virtual press briefing from Johannesburg.
The Indonesian delegation in Johannesburg also attracted interest from several African nations outside the G20, which are seeking to strengthen bilateral economic cooperation, particularly in agriculture, Airlangga added. Jakarta Globe
Malaysia’s first commercial production of SAF marked major leap in country’s efforts to decarbonise aviation: Minister
Pasir Gudang: Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani said Malaysia’s first commercial production of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) represents a major step in the country’s efforts to reduce aviation emissions and strengthen its position in the regional clean-fuel market, reports New Straits Times.
He said the launch comes at the right time, as sectors that are difficult to decarbonise — especially aviation — face increasing pressure to meet global net-zero goals.
“To achieve our national targets, we must also address high-emission sectors, including aviation.
“Globally, the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) has set an ambitious goal to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, and SAF has been identified as a key way to reduce emissions in this industry,” Johari said during his working visit to the facility today.
Malaysia has committed to reaching carbon neutrality by 2050 under the Paris Agreement.
SAF is a low-carbon jet fuel made from waste and renewable materials. It can cut aviation emissions without requiring changes to aircraft or airport facilities.
EcoCeres Renewable Fuels Sdn Bhd, the country’s first SAF producer, has been supplying commercial-grade fuel from its Tanjung Langsat plant since October. The facility is capable of producing up to 350,000 tonnes of SAF per year, establishing Malaysia as an emerging supplier of low-carbon aviation fuel in the region.
Those present at the launch included the ministry’s secretary-general Datuk Yusran Shah Mohd Yusof; Biomass and Biofuel Division undersecretary Dr Sang Yew Ngin; EcoCeres co-chairman James Tam; and executive vice-president Dannis Poon.
Johari noted that several national policy documents support the SAF initiative, such as the Aviation Decarbonisation Blueprint and the National Energy Transition Roadmap, which lay out phased plans to cut emissions in the aviation sector and place SAF at the centre of these efforts.
“To strengthen our commitment, the ministry is working with industry players and the transport ministry to introduce a national SAF blending mandate. The plan includes an initial requirement of 1 per cent SAF for flights departing Kuala Lumpur International Airport,” he said.
He also said that securing enough raw materials will be essential. Bioenergy Times
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European buyers show no negative perception of palm oil as sustainable aviation fuel, says Johari Ghani
JOHOR BAHRU (Nov 24): There is no negative perception among European buyers regarding the suitability of palm oil as a feedstock for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), said Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani.
The minister said used cooking oil (UCO), the primary feedstock for SAF, is highly rated in Europe and recognised as a high-quality raw material.
“Malaysia also has the Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) certification, which ensures that every metric ton of palm oil is sustainably produced and instils confidence in international markets,” he added.
Johari made the remarks to reporters following a visit to the country’s first SAF biorefinery, Ecoceres Renewable Fuels Sdn Bhd, in Tanjung Langsat, Johor.
Earlier reports had raised concerns about the suitability of palm oil as an SAF feedstock, particularly due to negative perceptions among European buyers over deforestation and environmental sustainability.
He said Malaysia, as the world’s second-largest palm oil producer, has an advantage in raw material supply for the SAF industry.
“The SAF initiative is also part of Malaysia’s strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and can be considered a low-carbon business activity,” he said.
Johari added that the ministry has been actively engaging stakeholders and working with the Ministry of Transport to develop a national SAF blending mandate, with plans to introduce an initial 1% SAF blending requirement for flights departing from the Kuala Lumpur International Airport.
“Since July 2023, the ministry, together with PETRONAS Dagangan Bhd (KL:PETDAG), has organised awareness programmes to promote UCO collection.
“As of September this year, more than 1,200 tonnes of UCO have been collected from nearly 66,000 customers at 89 selected Petronas petrol stations nationwide,” he said.
The Ecoceres plant in Johor is Malaysia’s first SAF biorefinery, with a licensed capacity of 350,000 metric tons per year, and began producing SAF last month. The Edge
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Pertamina Secures $2.6 Billion Upstream Oil and Gas Deals on Sidelines of G20 Summit
Jakarta. State-owned energy company Pertamina has secured $2.6 billion in upstream oil and gas investment agreements with its business partners on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Johannesburg, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto announced on Saturday.
Airlangga did not disclose further details of the collaboration, noting that the agreements remain under follow-up discussion.
“These are ongoing negotiations between Pertamina and its partners. That is all we can share for now,” Airlangga said during a virtual press briefing from Johannesburg.
The Indonesian delegation in Johannesburg also attracted interest from several African nations outside the G20, which are seeking to strengthen bilateral economic cooperation, particularly in agriculture, Airlangga added. Jakarta Globe
November 23, 2025
EU member states back new delay to anti-deforestation rules
BRUSSELS-EU member states have backed a new one-year delay to landmark anti-deforestation rules that have hit a wall of opposition from businesses and trading partners, diplomats told AFP.
Already delayed by a year, the rollout of the law banning imports of products driving deforestation would be pushed back to the end of 2026 under plans backed by a majority of member states. These still need approval by the EU parliament.
Led by Germany and Austria, EU capitals also backed holding a review of the sweeping legislation in April next year -- before it even comes into force.
The new delay goes further than a six-month grace period for large firms already proposed by the European Commission, while backing a push to cut back reporting requirements including for small companies.
Pierre-Jean Sol Brasier of the Fern environmental group said the move sent a "disastrous signal at every level," calling the back and forth on the law "a caricature of incompetent EU policymaking".
"We are creating instability for companies that have invested millions" towards compliance, warned Sol Brasier, who said the door was now open "for EU lawmakers to eviscerate" the text.
Adopted in 2023, the deforestation law, known as EUDR, was hailed by green groups as a major breakthrough in the fight to protect nature and combat climate change. Japan Today/AFP
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Opinion | Why Asia can’t wait for Europe to lead on deforestation-free timber
Mohammad Yunus on Asia’s dependence on regulatory developments in Brussels risks importing the same contradictions that hinder decisive action by the EU
Europe is once again embroiled in a prolonged argument over how to keep deforestation-linked timber out of its markets. The European Union’s deforestation regulations, once promoted as a bold step forward, have instead become a symbol of hesitation and uneven political will.
Some governments want delays and others push for exemptions, creating persistent uncertainty. For Asia, observing this from afar, the indecision carries more consequence than might initially be apparent because the region remains deeply influenced by Europe’s shifting regulatory direction and political mood.
A report released last month by investigative journalism group Earthsight illustrates why relying on Europe is risky. In Indonesia, large areas of natural forest can still be cleared legally inside plantation or mining concessions. Timber extracted during this clearance is labelled legal and easily processed into products bound for export. Everyone in the supply chain benefits from this efficiency except the forests, which continue to disappear under a framework that looks orderly and compliant on paper while enabling extensive environmental loss across vulnerable landscapes.
In some concessions, the speed of clearing has been staggering, eliminating tens of thousands of hectares within only a few years. This destruction removes orangutan habitats, displaces Dayak communities and releases substantial carbon emissions. These impacts are felt entirely within Asia, while Europe’s involvement remains limited to distant debates and shifting regulatory moods that do little to address on-the-ground realities.
This imbalance matters because Asia is among the world’s most active timber markets. China’s timber sector has expanded through most of 2025, with rising production and steady new orders. Cumulative imports reached 37.5 million cubic metres by August despite a yearly decline. Japan and South Korea remain heavily reliant on imported wood, while Southeast Asian demand grows through ongoing construction booms. If European rules tighten, the timber trade will merely flow more heavily into Asian markets instead of stopping.
As the effects of the new EU rules reshape global demand, timber is echoing a pattern seen in other commodities such as palm oil and rubber, where European demands pushed exporters to seek other markets with less stringent rules. Many Asian markets still lack strong, mandatory traceability systems. China has no full chain-of-custody requirement, while Japan and South Korea require documentation of legality but not detailed or highly verifiable harvesting information.
Asian governments have not ignored these concerns, yet they face structural constraints. In Indonesia, forest-based industries remain economically and politically influential, even as their contribution to national income evolves. Plantation and logging companies often maintain close relationships with local officials, creating resistance to stricter limits on conversion. China’s manufacturing sector relies heavily on affordable imported timber, making low-cost supply essential to its industrial model. Under these conditions, slow and cautious reform is unsurprising. SCMP
EU member states back new delay to anti-deforestation rules
BRUSSELS-EU member states have backed a new one-year delay to landmark anti-deforestation rules that have hit a wall of opposition from businesses and trading partners, diplomats told AFP.
Already delayed by a year, the rollout of the law banning imports of products driving deforestation would be pushed back to the end of 2026 under plans backed by a majority of member states. These still need approval by the EU parliament.
Led by Germany and Austria, EU capitals also backed holding a review of the sweeping legislation in April next year -- before it even comes into force.
The new delay goes further than a six-month grace period for large firms already proposed by the European Commission, while backing a push to cut back reporting requirements including for small companies.
Pierre-Jean Sol Brasier of the Fern environmental group said the move sent a "disastrous signal at every level," calling the back and forth on the law "a caricature of incompetent EU policymaking".
"We are creating instability for companies that have invested millions" towards compliance, warned Sol Brasier, who said the door was now open "for EU lawmakers to eviscerate" the text.
Adopted in 2023, the deforestation law, known as EUDR, was hailed by green groups as a major breakthrough in the fight to protect nature and combat climate change. Japan Today/AFP
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Opinion | Why Asia can’t wait for Europe to lead on deforestation-free timber
Mohammad Yunus on Asia’s dependence on regulatory developments in Brussels risks importing the same contradictions that hinder decisive action by the EU
Europe is once again embroiled in a prolonged argument over how to keep deforestation-linked timber out of its markets. The European Union’s deforestation regulations, once promoted as a bold step forward, have instead become a symbol of hesitation and uneven political will.
Some governments want delays and others push for exemptions, creating persistent uncertainty. For Asia, observing this from afar, the indecision carries more consequence than might initially be apparent because the region remains deeply influenced by Europe’s shifting regulatory direction and political mood.
A report released last month by investigative journalism group Earthsight illustrates why relying on Europe is risky. In Indonesia, large areas of natural forest can still be cleared legally inside plantation or mining concessions. Timber extracted during this clearance is labelled legal and easily processed into products bound for export. Everyone in the supply chain benefits from this efficiency except the forests, which continue to disappear under a framework that looks orderly and compliant on paper while enabling extensive environmental loss across vulnerable landscapes.
In some concessions, the speed of clearing has been staggering, eliminating tens of thousands of hectares within only a few years. This destruction removes orangutan habitats, displaces Dayak communities and releases substantial carbon emissions. These impacts are felt entirely within Asia, while Europe’s involvement remains limited to distant debates and shifting regulatory moods that do little to address on-the-ground realities.
This imbalance matters because Asia is among the world’s most active timber markets. China’s timber sector has expanded through most of 2025, with rising production and steady new orders. Cumulative imports reached 37.5 million cubic metres by August despite a yearly decline. Japan and South Korea remain heavily reliant on imported wood, while Southeast Asian demand grows through ongoing construction booms. If European rules tighten, the timber trade will merely flow more heavily into Asian markets instead of stopping.
As the effects of the new EU rules reshape global demand, timber is echoing a pattern seen in other commodities such as palm oil and rubber, where European demands pushed exporters to seek other markets with less stringent rules. Many Asian markets still lack strong, mandatory traceability systems. China has no full chain-of-custody requirement, while Japan and South Korea require documentation of legality but not detailed or highly verifiable harvesting information.
Asian governments have not ignored these concerns, yet they face structural constraints. In Indonesia, forest-based industries remain economically and politically influential, even as their contribution to national income evolves. Plantation and logging companies often maintain close relationships with local officials, creating resistance to stricter limits on conversion. China’s manufacturing sector relies heavily on affordable imported timber, making low-cost supply essential to its industrial model. Under these conditions, slow and cautious reform is unsurprising. SCMP
November 22, 2025
European Council pushes for delay and simplification of flagship anti-deforestation law
EUDR mandates that products derived from beef, cocoa, coffee, palm oil, natural rubber, soy or wood must be “deforestation-free” and legally produced to be placed on the EU market. The burden of complying or explaining sits with importing businesses. Deforestation after 2020 is taken into account.
EUDR has already been delayed by one year and, last month, lawmakers confirmed an additional six-month grace period during which time non-compliant businesses will not be penalised. This was intended to be an alternative to a one-year delay.
However, following vociferous advocacy from several member states – as well as key trade partners like Indonesia – the European Council has said it will rally behind the one-year delay.
EUDR was originally meant to enter force on December 30 2024 for large businesses and expand to micro and small businesses a year later. If the additional 12-month delay is agreed by the European Parliament, the dates will be 30 December 2026 for large businesses and 30 June 2027 for small firms.
The Council’s position statement additionally stipulates that, during the delay, the Directive can be simplified.
It will be presented to the European Parliament in the coming weeks.
Immediate criticism
Business for Nature’s CEO Eva Zabey said the proposal “will create immediate legal uncertainty, undermine the significant investments made by companies prepared for compliance, and distort competition by favouring those who have chosen not to act”.
This same warning was issued to EU policymakers earlier this week by more than 20 large businesses and trade bodies, including Mars Wrigley, Barry Callebaut, Nestlé and Danone.
Zabey’s Coalition, which convenes more than 100 organisations, is urging the European Parliament to reject any delays or exemptions. Its view is that the six-month grace period is the appropriate route forward.
Other organisations have expressed more anger. Mighty Earth’s senior advisor, Isabel Fernandez, said: “While EU climate negotiators mouth platitudes at COP30 in the Amazon, member states in Brussels are condemning another 70,000 hectares of forests like the Amazon to be razed to the ground via this outrageous proposal to further postpone the EUDR.
“A second postponement is simply a way for laggards in deforestation-risk industries, such as meat, soy, palm oil and cocoa, to buy more time to keep attacking and trying to kill off the EU’s flagship zero-deforestation law.”
“This massively undermines the EU’s role as a so-called climate leader. If this crucial law is not implemented in full and on time, there will be devastating consequences not just for tropical forests, and the people and wildlife that live there, but for the whole planet.”
COP30, the UN-convened climate summit, is taking place in Brazil this month. Nations have already agreed to more than $6bn of new funding for tropical forest conservation at the event. Edie
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E.U. Delays Deforestation Law to 2026 After Member States Push Back
The move, which gives African cocoa and coffee producers a reprieve, was driven by internal E.U. pressure and technical delays, drawing criticism from environmentalists.
The European Union’s landmark law banning the import of commodities linked to deforestation, including cocoa, coffee, soy, palm oil, timber and beef, has been pushed back to the end of 2026.
According to reporting by Le Monde, the latest delay follows pressure from several member states, notably Germany and Austria, which have criticized the regulation. The EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) was adopted in June 2023 and was originally scheduled to take effect in late 2024. It was later postponed to the end of 2025 after lobbying by major trade partners such as the United States, Brazil and Indonesia.
After that first delay, the European Commission requested more time to prepare the forest-monitoring IT system required for enforcement. The Commission said it must be able to process the large volume of data the law will generate.
EU governments have now postponed the deadline by another year and agreed to review the law in April 2026 before it comes into force. That review could result in further changes.
The decision has drawn criticism from observers who see it as a retreat from the bloc’s environmental commitments. The EU accounts for roughly 10 percent of global deforestation through its consumption patterns. The new delay also contradicts an appeal issued earlier by major food and agriculture companies. In an October 2 letter, firms including Nestlé, Olam Agri and Ferrero said they were ready for the law to take effect and had already invested in compliance.
For African countries, however, the extension provides valuable extra time to prepare. It will allow governments to strengthen their traceability systems, invest in digital tools and equipment and improve coordination with foreign companies.
Under the EUDR risk classification, Ghana, Gabon, Congo, South Africa, Tunisia and Madagascar are considered low-risk countries for deforestation and forest degradation. Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Côte d’Ivoire are currently listed as standard-risk countries. Ecofin Agency
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Broken promises and palm oil – ‘no deforestation’ is failing and we need regulation
Despite making public commitments to ‘no deforestation’, some of the world’s largest companies have been buying palm oil from a notorious plantation area in Indonesia which has experienced extensive forest destruction.
On Wednesday (19 November), EU member states adopted a heavily weakened stance on the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), proposing new delays and a review of the law before it is even in place.
These roll-backs undermine the EUDR’s purpose and risk turning a key anti-deforestation measure into a hollow political gesture ahead of another vote on the Commission’s proposal next week in the European Parliament.
Indonesia is the world’s largest producer of palm oil, an ingredient found in countless everyday products from food and soap to fuel. The EU is one of the top importers of palm oil.
The plantation area concerned is owned by PT Borneo Citra Persada Jaya and has been one of the country’s most notorious deforestation hotspots. The company has been ranked as one of Indonesia’s top palm-oil-linked deforesters almost every year since 2018, including in 2024, and has now cleared nearly all the forest in its area.
But despite this, major companies have been sourcing from this area by purchasing palm oil from the mill located inside it – PT Agro Manunggal Selaras.
The companies buying from the mill include some of the world’s largest palm oil traders, such as Wilmar and SD Guthrie, as well as European-headquartered firms such as major chemical company Oleon in Belgium and Dutch dairy company Friesland Campina.
Six of the companies appear and rank highly on Forest 500, which identifies and assesses the most influential companies with exposure to deforestation.
The palm oil plantation PT Borneo Citra Persada Jaya is also infamous for being part of the New Borneo Agri (NBA) Group, which has been repeatedly highlighted for its bad practices and alleged to function as a ‘shadow company’ secretly controlled by First Resources, a tactic used to evade sustainability commitments such as no-deforestation policies. These issues were detailed in EIA’s recent report A Family Affair.
The companies buying from the mill have been failing to conduct adequate due diligence by allowing deforestation-linked palm oil to enter their supply chains.
Despite their own deforestation-free pledges and systems designed to detect deforestation, they have listed the PT Agro Manunggal Selaras mill, which sits within an active deforestation zone, as a supplier.
EIA contacted all the companies which list sourcing from the mill but to date none could explain how this mill came to be in their supply chains in the first place when they have ‘no deforestation’ commitments.
The situation underscores the urgent need to implement the EUDR as palm oil from this area would be in violation of the EUDR.
The landmark legislation, long campaigned for by EIA, will require companies placing forest-risk commodities on the EU market – including palm oil – to conduct due diligence ensuring products are not sourced from land deforested after 2020 or produced illegally. It would transform due diligence from a voluntary effort into a legal obligation.
Currently, companies’ deforestation commitments vary in scope and target dates and, crucially, are voluntary, leading to inconsistent progress and application.
Equally, voluntary certification schemes such as the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) have persistent compliance issues and enforcement gaps, as EIA’s Watchmen reports have highlighted. Without mandatory standards, there is no guarantee of real progress or accountability.
Implementation of the EUDR has already been delayed by a year from the original start date at the end of 2024 to the end of 2025. EIA International
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POSCO Int'l acquires Indonesia's Sampoerna Agro for 1.3 tln won to expand global biofuel business
POSCO International-Indonesia
SEOUL, Nov. 20 (Yonhap) -- POSCO International Corp., the trading arm of POSCO Group, said Thursday it has acquired Indonesian palm oil producer Sampoerna Agro in a deal worth about 1.3 trillion won (US$884.7 million) to expand its global biofuel business.
POSCO International made the investment to acquire a controlling stake in Sampoerna Agro on Wednesday to became the largest shareholder of the Jakarta-listed company, it said in a regulatory filing.
The South Korean firm described the acquisition as a strategic investment to strengthen its global palm oil value chain.
Sampoerna Agro operates palm plantations across the Sumatra and Kalimantan islands in Indonesia, and owns a major seed production subsidiary and an agriculture research institute.
Through the deal, POSCO International adds 128,000 hectares of palm plantations to its Indonesian agro portfolio. Combined with its existing operations in Indonesia, the company now controls a total of 150,000 hectares of palm plantations.
POSCO International entered the palm business in 2011 and currently runs three palm oil plants in the Indonesian province of Papua, capable of producing 210,000 tons of palm oil annually. MSN
European Council pushes for delay and simplification of flagship anti-deforestation law
EUDR mandates that products derived from beef, cocoa, coffee, palm oil, natural rubber, soy or wood must be “deforestation-free” and legally produced to be placed on the EU market. The burden of complying or explaining sits with importing businesses. Deforestation after 2020 is taken into account.
EUDR has already been delayed by one year and, last month, lawmakers confirmed an additional six-month grace period during which time non-compliant businesses will not be penalised. This was intended to be an alternative to a one-year delay.
However, following vociferous advocacy from several member states – as well as key trade partners like Indonesia – the European Council has said it will rally behind the one-year delay.
EUDR was originally meant to enter force on December 30 2024 for large businesses and expand to micro and small businesses a year later. If the additional 12-month delay is agreed by the European Parliament, the dates will be 30 December 2026 for large businesses and 30 June 2027 for small firms.
The Council’s position statement additionally stipulates that, during the delay, the Directive can be simplified.
It will be presented to the European Parliament in the coming weeks.
Immediate criticism
Business for Nature’s CEO Eva Zabey said the proposal “will create immediate legal uncertainty, undermine the significant investments made by companies prepared for compliance, and distort competition by favouring those who have chosen not to act”.
This same warning was issued to EU policymakers earlier this week by more than 20 large businesses and trade bodies, including Mars Wrigley, Barry Callebaut, Nestlé and Danone.
Zabey’s Coalition, which convenes more than 100 organisations, is urging the European Parliament to reject any delays or exemptions. Its view is that the six-month grace period is the appropriate route forward.
Other organisations have expressed more anger. Mighty Earth’s senior advisor, Isabel Fernandez, said: “While EU climate negotiators mouth platitudes at COP30 in the Amazon, member states in Brussels are condemning another 70,000 hectares of forests like the Amazon to be razed to the ground via this outrageous proposal to further postpone the EUDR.
“A second postponement is simply a way for laggards in deforestation-risk industries, such as meat, soy, palm oil and cocoa, to buy more time to keep attacking and trying to kill off the EU’s flagship zero-deforestation law.”
“This massively undermines the EU’s role as a so-called climate leader. If this crucial law is not implemented in full and on time, there will be devastating consequences not just for tropical forests, and the people and wildlife that live there, but for the whole planet.”
COP30, the UN-convened climate summit, is taking place in Brazil this month. Nations have already agreed to more than $6bn of new funding for tropical forest conservation at the event. Edie
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E.U. Delays Deforestation Law to 2026 After Member States Push Back
The move, which gives African cocoa and coffee producers a reprieve, was driven by internal E.U. pressure and technical delays, drawing criticism from environmentalists.
The European Union’s landmark law banning the import of commodities linked to deforestation, including cocoa, coffee, soy, palm oil, timber and beef, has been pushed back to the end of 2026.
According to reporting by Le Monde, the latest delay follows pressure from several member states, notably Germany and Austria, which have criticized the regulation. The EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) was adopted in June 2023 and was originally scheduled to take effect in late 2024. It was later postponed to the end of 2025 after lobbying by major trade partners such as the United States, Brazil and Indonesia.
After that first delay, the European Commission requested more time to prepare the forest-monitoring IT system required for enforcement. The Commission said it must be able to process the large volume of data the law will generate.
EU governments have now postponed the deadline by another year and agreed to review the law in April 2026 before it comes into force. That review could result in further changes.
The decision has drawn criticism from observers who see it as a retreat from the bloc’s environmental commitments. The EU accounts for roughly 10 percent of global deforestation through its consumption patterns. The new delay also contradicts an appeal issued earlier by major food and agriculture companies. In an October 2 letter, firms including Nestlé, Olam Agri and Ferrero said they were ready for the law to take effect and had already invested in compliance.
For African countries, however, the extension provides valuable extra time to prepare. It will allow governments to strengthen their traceability systems, invest in digital tools and equipment and improve coordination with foreign companies.
Under the EUDR risk classification, Ghana, Gabon, Congo, South Africa, Tunisia and Madagascar are considered low-risk countries for deforestation and forest degradation. Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Côte d’Ivoire are currently listed as standard-risk countries. Ecofin Agency
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Broken promises and palm oil – ‘no deforestation’ is failing and we need regulation
Despite making public commitments to ‘no deforestation’, some of the world’s largest companies have been buying palm oil from a notorious plantation area in Indonesia which has experienced extensive forest destruction.
On Wednesday (19 November), EU member states adopted a heavily weakened stance on the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), proposing new delays and a review of the law before it is even in place.
These roll-backs undermine the EUDR’s purpose and risk turning a key anti-deforestation measure into a hollow political gesture ahead of another vote on the Commission’s proposal next week in the European Parliament.
Indonesia is the world’s largest producer of palm oil, an ingredient found in countless everyday products from food and soap to fuel. The EU is one of the top importers of palm oil.
The plantation area concerned is owned by PT Borneo Citra Persada Jaya and has been one of the country’s most notorious deforestation hotspots. The company has been ranked as one of Indonesia’s top palm-oil-linked deforesters almost every year since 2018, including in 2024, and has now cleared nearly all the forest in its area.
But despite this, major companies have been sourcing from this area by purchasing palm oil from the mill located inside it – PT Agro Manunggal Selaras.
The companies buying from the mill include some of the world’s largest palm oil traders, such as Wilmar and SD Guthrie, as well as European-headquartered firms such as major chemical company Oleon in Belgium and Dutch dairy company Friesland Campina.
Six of the companies appear and rank highly on Forest 500, which identifies and assesses the most influential companies with exposure to deforestation.
The palm oil plantation PT Borneo Citra Persada Jaya is also infamous for being part of the New Borneo Agri (NBA) Group, which has been repeatedly highlighted for its bad practices and alleged to function as a ‘shadow company’ secretly controlled by First Resources, a tactic used to evade sustainability commitments such as no-deforestation policies. These issues were detailed in EIA’s recent report A Family Affair.
The companies buying from the mill have been failing to conduct adequate due diligence by allowing deforestation-linked palm oil to enter their supply chains.
Despite their own deforestation-free pledges and systems designed to detect deforestation, they have listed the PT Agro Manunggal Selaras mill, which sits within an active deforestation zone, as a supplier.
EIA contacted all the companies which list sourcing from the mill but to date none could explain how this mill came to be in their supply chains in the first place when they have ‘no deforestation’ commitments.
The situation underscores the urgent need to implement the EUDR as palm oil from this area would be in violation of the EUDR.
The landmark legislation, long campaigned for by EIA, will require companies placing forest-risk commodities on the EU market – including palm oil – to conduct due diligence ensuring products are not sourced from land deforested after 2020 or produced illegally. It would transform due diligence from a voluntary effort into a legal obligation.
Currently, companies’ deforestation commitments vary in scope and target dates and, crucially, are voluntary, leading to inconsistent progress and application.
Equally, voluntary certification schemes such as the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) have persistent compliance issues and enforcement gaps, as EIA’s Watchmen reports have highlighted. Without mandatory standards, there is no guarantee of real progress or accountability.
Implementation of the EUDR has already been delayed by a year from the original start date at the end of 2024 to the end of 2025. EIA International
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POSCO Int'l acquires Indonesia's Sampoerna Agro for 1.3 tln won to expand global biofuel business
POSCO International-Indonesia
SEOUL, Nov. 20 (Yonhap) -- POSCO International Corp., the trading arm of POSCO Group, said Thursday it has acquired Indonesian palm oil producer Sampoerna Agro in a deal worth about 1.3 trillion won (US$884.7 million) to expand its global biofuel business.
POSCO International made the investment to acquire a controlling stake in Sampoerna Agro on Wednesday to became the largest shareholder of the Jakarta-listed company, it said in a regulatory filing.
The South Korean firm described the acquisition as a strategic investment to strengthen its global palm oil value chain.
Sampoerna Agro operates palm plantations across the Sumatra and Kalimantan islands in Indonesia, and owns a major seed production subsidiary and an agriculture research institute.
Through the deal, POSCO International adds 128,000 hectares of palm plantations to its Indonesian agro portfolio. Combined with its existing operations in Indonesia, the company now controls a total of 150,000 hectares of palm plantations.
POSCO International entered the palm business in 2011 and currently runs three palm oil plants in the Indonesian province of Papua, capable of producing 210,000 tons of palm oil annually. MSN
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November 21, 2025
Report on the anti-deforestation law: ‘deep disappointment’ of a commissioner
The European Commissioner for Climate Transition expressed on Thursday her “deep disappointment,” the day after the member states voted to postpone for an additional year a law against deforestation.
At the request of Germany and Austria, who were very critical of this text, the Europeans also approved a review clause in April 2026, to reconsider this law even before it comes into effect.
This landmark text, deemed pioneering by environmental organizations, aims to ban the marketing in Europe of products such as palm oil, cocoa, coffee, soy, and wood sourced from deforested land after 2020.
It continues to be criticized by agribusiness circles and countries like Brazil and the United States. The European Union had already postponed it once from 2024 to 2025, before the new deadline supported on Wednesday. The European Parliament must now take it up. (November 20, 2025) ENR
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Sub-Saharan Africa’s food imports set to reach $65 billion in 2025
The UN agency reports that cereals such as wheat, rice, barley, and wheat flour remain the region’s largest expense, with purchases projected at $21.9 billion, or about 34 % of total food imports. Edible oils rank second, followed by fishery products, sugar, and beverages, which together are expected to account for $23.4 billion in purchases.
Apart from cereals, sugar, and meat, spending on all other food categories has increased year over year. The FAO notes that the import bill for oils and fats is expected to rise due to tight global supplies of vegetable oils, driven in part by limited growth in palm oil output. It adds that spending on products such as fish and fruits and vegetables will increase, supported by strong demand in middle- and high-income countries.
Overall, the expected rise in Sub-Saharan Africa’s food import bill aligns with global trends. The report forecasts that the global Food Import Bill (FIB) will increase by nearly 8 % to $2.22 trillion in 2025, a new record. Ecofin
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Malaysia's palm oil industry faces new wave of biological, environmental threats: MPOB chief
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's palm oil industry is confronting a growing wave of biological and environmental threats that experts warn could erode yields, undermine decades of progress and put the long-term sustainability of the nation's plantations at risk.
Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) chairman Datuk Mohamad Helmy Othman Basha said these challenges, if left unmanaged, risk undoing decades of progress built by the sector.
He said among the most pressing concerns is basal stem rot caused by the aggressive Ganoderma boninense fungus, which he described as one of the most destructive diseases affecting oil palm.
Other threats include leaf spot and a range of emerging pathogens that continue to weaken plantation resilience.
On pest infestations, Mohamad Helmy said the bagworm as one of the most damaging leaf-eating pests, capable of causing severe defoliation and significant yield losses when not properly controlled.
"At present, both basal stem rot and bagworm infestation remain the two most notorious and devastating pest and disease concerns for the Malaysian oil palm industry," he said at the International Conference on Oil Palm Protection (ICOPP) here today.
To counter the threats, Mohamad Helmy said the adoption of integrated pest management is crucial, describing it as a balanced and sustainable framework that combines chemical, biological and agronomic methods to safeguard crop health.
Any pest and disease solutions must be rooted in sustainability to support long-term green management practices across plantations.
Mohamad Helmy added that strong biosecurity and quarantine measures are equally vital, serving as the first line of defence against the introduction and spread of exotic pests and diseases that could severely disrupt the industry.
He said the National Biosecurity Plan for oil palm plays a key role in protecting plantations from new and potentially devastating threats.
He highlighted the Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil certification scheme introduced in 2013 as a testament to the industry's resolve to balance productivity with environmental stewardship and social responsibility.
"In the context of crop protection, sustainability means reducing reliance on hazardous chemicals, promoting environmentally friendly technologies such as biological and green solutions, and ensuring that innovations are practical and accessible to all, especially smallholders.
"International collaboration is critical to mitigate these potential risks as quickly and efficiently as possible," he said. NST
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Not feasible to mirror Indonesia’s palm oil ‘domesticisation’ strategy - MPOB Chairman
Indonesia’s larger population allows it to absorb more palm oil locally, effectively reducing nearly four million tonnes of palm oil from the global market
MALAYSIA cannot adopt Indonesia’s approach of increasing domestic palm oil consumption to counter Western anti-palm oil campaigns, as the two countries face fundamentally different market dynamics, the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) chairman has said.
Datuk Mohamad Helmy Othman Basha explained that Indonesia’s larger population allows it to absorb more palm oil locally, effectively reducing nearly four million tonnes of palm oil from the global market when blended into domestic diesel.
“When the West heavily criticises Indonesian palm oil, Indonesia tries to boost domestic usage, meaning every 10 per cent they divert is not exported,” he said during an interview following the opening of the MPOB International Palm Oil Congress and Exhibition (PIPOC 2025) at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre on Thursday.
By contrast, Malaysia’s smaller domestic population means the country relies more on exports for its palm oil market, making a similar strategy impractical, he added.
Addressing Western criticism that Malaysia’s palm oil cultivation has driven deforestation, Mohamad Helmy emphasised that oil palm plantations occupy only 8.5 per cent of global agricultural land for oil crops, compared with 288 million hectares for other vegetable oils such as soy, rapeseed, and sunflower.
“Only 8.5 per cent of the world’s vegetable oil land is devoted to palm oil, producing 37 per cent of total global vegetable oil output, which is 78 million tonnes,” he said.
He further rejected claims that Malaysian palm oil cultivation significantly threatens wildlife such as orangutans, noting that plantations occupy only 0.6 per cent of the world’s 4.8 billion hectares of land.
Mohamad Helmy also highlighted palm oil’s efficiency and nutritional value, citing components such as tocotrienols and vitamin E, and noting its role in replacing petrochemical ingredients in products, including cosmetics.
“Palm oil remains the most productive and efficient vegetable oil while offering nutritional benefits,” he said. - November 21, 2025 The Vibes
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Wilmar’s China unit found guilty of contract fraud, liable for $345 million in losses
SINGAPORE - A subsidiary of Wilmar International has been found guilty of contract fraud by a Chinese court and ordered to jointly bear losses amounting to 1.88 billion yuan (S$345 million).
The unit was sued by the public prosecutor in January 2024 as an “accomplice” in contract fraud related to palm oil trades between state-owned enterprise Anhui Huawen and a privately owned counterparty, Yunnan Huijia Import & Export. The alleged fraud led to a 5.2 billion yuan loss for Anhui Huawen.
The judgment was handed down on Nov 19 by the Intermediate People’s Court of Huaibei City against Guangzhou Yihai, a subsidiary of Wilmar’s Shenzhen-listed arm, Yihai Kerry Arawana (YKA). YKA is 89.99 per cent owned by Wilmar.
In a bourse filing released the same day, Wilmar stated that the unit intends to contest the court’s decision, asserting that the court’s factual determinations, adoption of evidence and application of law were “erroneous”.
According to the first-instance criminal judgment, Guangzhou Yihai was found guilty of “contract fraud as an accessory” and fined one million yuan.
The court also ruled that Guangzhou Yihai must jointly bear the 1.88 billion yuan in losses incurred by the victim, state-owned enterprise Anhui Huawen, alongside Yunnan Huijia. Straits Times
Report on the anti-deforestation law: ‘deep disappointment’ of a commissioner
The European Commissioner for Climate Transition expressed on Thursday her “deep disappointment,” the day after the member states voted to postpone for an additional year a law against deforestation.
At the request of Germany and Austria, who were very critical of this text, the Europeans also approved a review clause in April 2026, to reconsider this law even before it comes into effect.
This landmark text, deemed pioneering by environmental organizations, aims to ban the marketing in Europe of products such as palm oil, cocoa, coffee, soy, and wood sourced from deforested land after 2020.
It continues to be criticized by agribusiness circles and countries like Brazil and the United States. The European Union had already postponed it once from 2024 to 2025, before the new deadline supported on Wednesday. The European Parliament must now take it up. (November 20, 2025) ENR
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Sub-Saharan Africa’s food imports set to reach $65 billion in 2025
- FAO forecasts a 4 % rise in food import spending from 2024
- Cereals remain the top import item at $21.9 billion
- Rising costs reflect strong demand and global supply pressures
The UN agency reports that cereals such as wheat, rice, barley, and wheat flour remain the region’s largest expense, with purchases projected at $21.9 billion, or about 34 % of total food imports. Edible oils rank second, followed by fishery products, sugar, and beverages, which together are expected to account for $23.4 billion in purchases.
Apart from cereals, sugar, and meat, spending on all other food categories has increased year over year. The FAO notes that the import bill for oils and fats is expected to rise due to tight global supplies of vegetable oils, driven in part by limited growth in palm oil output. It adds that spending on products such as fish and fruits and vegetables will increase, supported by strong demand in middle- and high-income countries.
Overall, the expected rise in Sub-Saharan Africa’s food import bill aligns with global trends. The report forecasts that the global Food Import Bill (FIB) will increase by nearly 8 % to $2.22 trillion in 2025, a new record. Ecofin
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Malaysia's palm oil industry faces new wave of biological, environmental threats: MPOB chief
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's palm oil industry is confronting a growing wave of biological and environmental threats that experts warn could erode yields, undermine decades of progress and put the long-term sustainability of the nation's plantations at risk.
Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) chairman Datuk Mohamad Helmy Othman Basha said these challenges, if left unmanaged, risk undoing decades of progress built by the sector.
He said among the most pressing concerns is basal stem rot caused by the aggressive Ganoderma boninense fungus, which he described as one of the most destructive diseases affecting oil palm.
Other threats include leaf spot and a range of emerging pathogens that continue to weaken plantation resilience.
On pest infestations, Mohamad Helmy said the bagworm as one of the most damaging leaf-eating pests, capable of causing severe defoliation and significant yield losses when not properly controlled.
"At present, both basal stem rot and bagworm infestation remain the two most notorious and devastating pest and disease concerns for the Malaysian oil palm industry," he said at the International Conference on Oil Palm Protection (ICOPP) here today.
To counter the threats, Mohamad Helmy said the adoption of integrated pest management is crucial, describing it as a balanced and sustainable framework that combines chemical, biological and agronomic methods to safeguard crop health.
Any pest and disease solutions must be rooted in sustainability to support long-term green management practices across plantations.
Mohamad Helmy added that strong biosecurity and quarantine measures are equally vital, serving as the first line of defence against the introduction and spread of exotic pests and diseases that could severely disrupt the industry.
He said the National Biosecurity Plan for oil palm plays a key role in protecting plantations from new and potentially devastating threats.
He highlighted the Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil certification scheme introduced in 2013 as a testament to the industry's resolve to balance productivity with environmental stewardship and social responsibility.
"In the context of crop protection, sustainability means reducing reliance on hazardous chemicals, promoting environmentally friendly technologies such as biological and green solutions, and ensuring that innovations are practical and accessible to all, especially smallholders.
"International collaboration is critical to mitigate these potential risks as quickly and efficiently as possible," he said. NST
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Not feasible to mirror Indonesia’s palm oil ‘domesticisation’ strategy - MPOB Chairman
Indonesia’s larger population allows it to absorb more palm oil locally, effectively reducing nearly four million tonnes of palm oil from the global market
MALAYSIA cannot adopt Indonesia’s approach of increasing domestic palm oil consumption to counter Western anti-palm oil campaigns, as the two countries face fundamentally different market dynamics, the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) chairman has said.
Datuk Mohamad Helmy Othman Basha explained that Indonesia’s larger population allows it to absorb more palm oil locally, effectively reducing nearly four million tonnes of palm oil from the global market when blended into domestic diesel.
“When the West heavily criticises Indonesian palm oil, Indonesia tries to boost domestic usage, meaning every 10 per cent they divert is not exported,” he said during an interview following the opening of the MPOB International Palm Oil Congress and Exhibition (PIPOC 2025) at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre on Thursday.
By contrast, Malaysia’s smaller domestic population means the country relies more on exports for its palm oil market, making a similar strategy impractical, he added.
Addressing Western criticism that Malaysia’s palm oil cultivation has driven deforestation, Mohamad Helmy emphasised that oil palm plantations occupy only 8.5 per cent of global agricultural land for oil crops, compared with 288 million hectares for other vegetable oils such as soy, rapeseed, and sunflower.
“Only 8.5 per cent of the world’s vegetable oil land is devoted to palm oil, producing 37 per cent of total global vegetable oil output, which is 78 million tonnes,” he said.
He further rejected claims that Malaysian palm oil cultivation significantly threatens wildlife such as orangutans, noting that plantations occupy only 0.6 per cent of the world’s 4.8 billion hectares of land.
Mohamad Helmy also highlighted palm oil’s efficiency and nutritional value, citing components such as tocotrienols and vitamin E, and noting its role in replacing petrochemical ingredients in products, including cosmetics.
“Palm oil remains the most productive and efficient vegetable oil while offering nutritional benefits,” he said. - November 21, 2025 The Vibes
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Wilmar’s China unit found guilty of contract fraud, liable for $345 million in losses
SINGAPORE - A subsidiary of Wilmar International has been found guilty of contract fraud by a Chinese court and ordered to jointly bear losses amounting to 1.88 billion yuan (S$345 million).
The unit was sued by the public prosecutor in January 2024 as an “accomplice” in contract fraud related to palm oil trades between state-owned enterprise Anhui Huawen and a privately owned counterparty, Yunnan Huijia Import & Export. The alleged fraud led to a 5.2 billion yuan loss for Anhui Huawen.
The judgment was handed down on Nov 19 by the Intermediate People’s Court of Huaibei City against Guangzhou Yihai, a subsidiary of Wilmar’s Shenzhen-listed arm, Yihai Kerry Arawana (YKA). YKA is 89.99 per cent owned by Wilmar.
In a bourse filing released the same day, Wilmar stated that the unit intends to contest the court’s decision, asserting that the court’s factual determinations, adoption of evidence and application of law were “erroneous”.
According to the first-instance criminal judgment, Guangzhou Yihai was found guilty of “contract fraud as an accessory” and fined one million yuan.
The court also ruled that Guangzhou Yihai must jointly bear the 1.88 billion yuan in losses incurred by the victim, state-owned enterprise Anhui Huawen, alongside Yunnan Huijia. Straits Times
November 20, 2025
Thousands protest against state takeover of palm oil plantations in Indonesia's Riau
By Reuters
JAKARTA, Nov 20 (Reuters) - Thousands of residents in Indonesia's Riau province palm oil belt protested on Thursday against the takeover of their plantations by the government's forestry task force, an organiser told Reuters.
President Prabowo Subianto's forestry task force, which includes military personnel and state prosecutors, has this year launched a crackdown on palm oil plantations they say have been running illegally in forest areas, an operation that the palm oil industry says could disrupt global supplies.
Around 3.7 million hectares (9.1 million acres) of plantations have been seized, with nearly half transferred to the nascent state-run firm Agrinas Palma Nusantara, transforming it into the world's largest palm oil company by land size.
At a rally near the local prosecutor's office in the provincial capital of Pekanbaru, around 2,800 protesters called on the task force and Agrinas to halt all their operations in Riau and explain the legal basis of the takeover, said Abdul Aziz, secretary general of KOMMARI, a coalition of Riau residents.
"Our hope is they first make sure who has the right to the lands. They can't just seize lands that we have cultivated for years, for decades. This should be taken to the court," Aziz said in a phone interview.
Agrinas' vice chief executive Kusdi Sastro Kidjan said the task force's operations were based on existing laws, intended to take back control of forest areas and stop illegal planting of palm oil.
Agrinas will continue its activity in Riau and other provinces across the country while maintaining good corporate governance standards, he said.
The task force did not immediately respond to Reuters' request for comment.
Indonesia is the world's biggest producer of palm oil, while Riau is the country's top province when it comes to total plantations.
There is no data showing how much land has been taken over by the task force in Riau, and it is also unclear how much has been handed over to Agrinas.
More than 1,300 personnel were deployed to police the rally, which consisted of thousands of people marching through the streets of Pekanbaru, state news agency Antara reported. Reuters
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POSCO International Acquires Large Indonesian Palm Plantation
POSCO International has acquired an additional palm plantation in Indonesia. The company has also completed construction of a local palm oil refinery in joint venture with GS Caltex, completing a full value chain spanning from palm seed development to palm oil production used as raw material for biofuel.
POSCO International announced on Nov. 20 that it acquired stakes in Indonesian Sampoerna Agro on Nov. 19, securing management rights and the largest shareholder position. The investment amount totals 1.3 trillion won.
Through this acquisition, POSCO International has secured an additional 128,000 hectares of plantation, an area more than twice the size of Seoul. Including the existing Papua plantation, the palm plantation area expands to 150,000 hectares.
Sampoerna Agro is a leading local company operating palm plantations across Sumatra and Kalimantan islands in Indonesia. It is a palm-specialized company that also owns a palm seed subsidiary with the second-largest domestic market share and research facilities.
The palm plantation secured through this acquisition has already reached maturity in palm fruit production, enabling stable profit generation from the initial stages of acquisition. The palm plantation business features a long-term high-profit structure where harvesting becomes possible 3-4 years after planting trees and production continues for over 20 years.
POSCO International began developing palm plantations in Papua in 2011 and started commercial production in 2016. The company currently operates three palm oil mills producing 210,000 tons of palm oil annually. As existing palm plantations have entered maturity, they serve as cash cows, recording an average annual operating profit margin of 36% through last year.
Palm oil is vegetable oil extracted from oil palm fruit. Through refining processes, vegetable oil extracted from palm fruit seeds is utilized as cooking oil or eco-friendly raw materials, while byproduct powder from crushing the remaining pulp and shells after palm oil extraction is used as raw materials for cosmetics, soap, and detergents. 출처Businesskorea(https://www.businesskorea.co.kr)
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India's palm oil imports to rebound from five-year low on competitive prices
India's palm oil imports are expected to rebound by nearly 20% in the new marketing year, driven by competitive pricing that is helping the tropical oil regain market share, the head of an industry body said on Thursday.
The increase in purchases by the world's largest buyer is likely to reduce stocks in key producing countries such as Indonesia and Malaysia and lend support to benchmark Malaysian palm oil futures.
"Palm oil prices have become competitive relative to other oils after the recent decline, and that will drive import demand," Sanjeev Asthana, president of the Solvent Extractors' Association of India (SEA), said in an interview with Reuters.
The country's palm oil imports in the 2025/26 marketing year, which started on November 1, could rise to 9.3 million metric tons, from last year's 7.58 million tons, the lowest in five years, said Asthana, who is also the CEO of Patanjali Foods Ltd.
Palm oil imports fell 15.9% in the previous marketing year as the oil traded at a premium to rival soyoil for much of the period.
But palm oil is now trading at a discount of about $100 per tonne to soyoil and more than $200 to sunflower oil, encouraging refiners to book shipments for the coming months, dealers said. Economic Times
Read more
Thousands protest against state takeover of palm oil plantations in Indonesia's Riau
By Reuters
JAKARTA, Nov 20 (Reuters) - Thousands of residents in Indonesia's Riau province palm oil belt protested on Thursday against the takeover of their plantations by the government's forestry task force, an organiser told Reuters.
President Prabowo Subianto's forestry task force, which includes military personnel and state prosecutors, has this year launched a crackdown on palm oil plantations they say have been running illegally in forest areas, an operation that the palm oil industry says could disrupt global supplies.
Around 3.7 million hectares (9.1 million acres) of plantations have been seized, with nearly half transferred to the nascent state-run firm Agrinas Palma Nusantara, transforming it into the world's largest palm oil company by land size.
At a rally near the local prosecutor's office in the provincial capital of Pekanbaru, around 2,800 protesters called on the task force and Agrinas to halt all their operations in Riau and explain the legal basis of the takeover, said Abdul Aziz, secretary general of KOMMARI, a coalition of Riau residents.
"Our hope is they first make sure who has the right to the lands. They can't just seize lands that we have cultivated for years, for decades. This should be taken to the court," Aziz said in a phone interview.
Agrinas' vice chief executive Kusdi Sastro Kidjan said the task force's operations were based on existing laws, intended to take back control of forest areas and stop illegal planting of palm oil.
Agrinas will continue its activity in Riau and other provinces across the country while maintaining good corporate governance standards, he said.
The task force did not immediately respond to Reuters' request for comment.
Indonesia is the world's biggest producer of palm oil, while Riau is the country's top province when it comes to total plantations.
There is no data showing how much land has been taken over by the task force in Riau, and it is also unclear how much has been handed over to Agrinas.
More than 1,300 personnel were deployed to police the rally, which consisted of thousands of people marching through the streets of Pekanbaru, state news agency Antara reported. Reuters
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POSCO International Acquires Large Indonesian Palm Plantation
POSCO International has acquired an additional palm plantation in Indonesia. The company has also completed construction of a local palm oil refinery in joint venture with GS Caltex, completing a full value chain spanning from palm seed development to palm oil production used as raw material for biofuel.
POSCO International announced on Nov. 20 that it acquired stakes in Indonesian Sampoerna Agro on Nov. 19, securing management rights and the largest shareholder position. The investment amount totals 1.3 trillion won.
Through this acquisition, POSCO International has secured an additional 128,000 hectares of plantation, an area more than twice the size of Seoul. Including the existing Papua plantation, the palm plantation area expands to 150,000 hectares.
Sampoerna Agro is a leading local company operating palm plantations across Sumatra and Kalimantan islands in Indonesia. It is a palm-specialized company that also owns a palm seed subsidiary with the second-largest domestic market share and research facilities.
The palm plantation secured through this acquisition has already reached maturity in palm fruit production, enabling stable profit generation from the initial stages of acquisition. The palm plantation business features a long-term high-profit structure where harvesting becomes possible 3-4 years after planting trees and production continues for over 20 years.
POSCO International began developing palm plantations in Papua in 2011 and started commercial production in 2016. The company currently operates three palm oil mills producing 210,000 tons of palm oil annually. As existing palm plantations have entered maturity, they serve as cash cows, recording an average annual operating profit margin of 36% through last year.
Palm oil is vegetable oil extracted from oil palm fruit. Through refining processes, vegetable oil extracted from palm fruit seeds is utilized as cooking oil or eco-friendly raw materials, while byproduct powder from crushing the remaining pulp and shells after palm oil extraction is used as raw materials for cosmetics, soap, and detergents. 출처Businesskorea(https://www.businesskorea.co.kr)
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India's palm oil imports to rebound from five-year low on competitive prices
India's palm oil imports are expected to rebound by nearly 20% in the new marketing year, driven by competitive pricing that is helping the tropical oil regain market share, the head of an industry body said on Thursday.
The increase in purchases by the world's largest buyer is likely to reduce stocks in key producing countries such as Indonesia and Malaysia and lend support to benchmark Malaysian palm oil futures.
"Palm oil prices have become competitive relative to other oils after the recent decline, and that will drive import demand," Sanjeev Asthana, president of the Solvent Extractors' Association of India (SEA), said in an interview with Reuters.
The country's palm oil imports in the 2025/26 marketing year, which started on November 1, could rise to 9.3 million metric tons, from last year's 7.58 million tons, the lowest in five years, said Asthana, who is also the CEO of Patanjali Foods Ltd.
Palm oil imports fell 15.9% in the previous marketing year as the oil traded at a premium to rival soyoil for much of the period.
But palm oil is now trading at a discount of about $100 per tonne to soyoil and more than $200 to sunflower oil, encouraging refiners to book shipments for the coming months, dealers said. Economic Times
Read more
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November 19, 2025
Malaysia’s palm oil giants pivot to AI data centres, solar projects to meet US$34 billion investment boom
GEORGE TOWN, Nov 19 — Malaysia’s palm oil giants, long criticised for deforestation, haze and threats to wildlife, are repositioning themselves as unlikely players in the country’s booming AI data centre market, according to Bloomberg.
According to the report, the companies are earmarking some of their vast land holdings for industrial parks equipped with data centres and solar panels, with the latter intended to feed the insatiable energy needs of the former.
Data centres are both energy- and land-intensive, and by 2035, they could require at least five gigawatts of electricity in Malaysia — nearly 20 per cent of the country’s current generation capacity.
Palm oil firms control more land than any other private entity in the country, making them natural candidates to host these facilities.
Bloomberg reported that Malaysia has become a hotspot for regional data centre growth. Last year, it was the fastest growing data centre market in the Asia Pacific, and roughly 40 per cent of all planned capacity in Southeast Asia is now slated for Malaysia, according to industry consultant DC Byte.
Over the past four years, US$34 billion (RM159 billion) in data centre investments has flowed into the country, with Alphabet Inc.’s Google committing US$2 billion (RM9.3 billion), Microsoft Corp. announcing US$2.2 billion (RM10.3 billion), and Amazon.com Inc. spending US$6.2 billion (RM29 billion).
The government aims to have 81 data centres operating by 2035, the report said.
Johor, just across the causeway from Singapore, has emerged as a hub of construction and server farms, including for Singapore Telecommunications Ltd., Nvidia Corp., and ByteDance Ltd. Bloomberg noted that delivering on promised renewable energy for these centres is proving challenging.
Sedenak Tech Park, one of Johor’s flagship sites, has informed potential tenants that promised water and power hookups under its second-phase expansion will only be ready in the fourth quarter of 2026, according to DC Byte.
The vacancy rate in Johor’s operational facilities is just 1.1 per cent, said Knight Frank, whose head of data centres for Asia Pacific, Fred Fitzalan Howard, added that six gigawatts of capacity are expected to be built over time.
This potential bottleneck has prompted palm oil leaders like SD Guthrie Bhd. to market themselves as both landowners and green power suppliers.
Group managing director Mohamad Helmy Othman Basha told Bloomberg: “This is where we can play a crucial, significant role in this ecosystem.”
The company, the world’s largest palm oil planter by acreage with more than 340,000 hectares in Malaysia, is pivoting to solar farms and industrial parks.
SD Guthrie has earmarked 10,000 hectares for such projects over the next decade, clearing old rubber estates and low-yielding palm plots near data centre and semiconductor hubs.
Helmy told Bloomberg the company aims to achieve one gigawatt of solar capacity within three years, enough to power up to 10 hyperscale data centres used for AI computing.
The new business is expected to account for about a third of SD Guthrie’s profits by the end of the decade. “Every inch of our land going forward will generate income,” he was quoted as saying.
Rivals are following suit Malay Mail
--------
Palm oil can help feed the world sustainably, says SD Guthrie MD
PETALING JAYA: Palm oil, if produced sustainably, can be a key solution to feeding a growing global population without expanding agricultural land, SD Guthrie group managing director Helmy Othman Basha said.
Helmy said palm oil was ubiquitous in everyday products, found in about half of supermarket items, and that its versatility made it highly valuable.
“Because it is versatile, it is accessible, and it can be produced sustainably by smallholders or large companies.
“What this means is that palm oil is a potential replacement for other edible oils,” he said in his keynote speech at the World Climate Summit 2025 in Belem, Brazil, last Friday.
However, the Malaysian Palm Oil Board chairman said that palm oil had long been unfairly blamed for deforestation and species loss, overshadowing the crop’s efficiency and responsible production practices.
Citing data from Our World in Data, Helmy said oil palm was four to 10 times more productive per hectare than any other edible oil crop.
“About 336 million hectares of land are planted with crops that produce edible oil. Of this, less than 10% or over 28 million hectares is planted with oil palm.
“But this 10% produces more than a third, between 33% and 40%, of all edible oils in the world. That’s about 75 to 80 million metric tonnes,” he said.
By comparison, Helmy said soybean, for example, occupied over 100 million hectares but produced less than 60 million tonnes of oil.
He also pointed to land use across agriculture where livestock occupies roughly 80% of total agricultural land, or 4.8 billion hectares, while oil palm makes up only 0.6%.
“Has the forest been cleared to plant oil palm? Yes, of course. Is most forest clearing because of oil palm? Not at all,” he said.
With global demand for edible oils and protein feedstock projected to rise by over 40% in the next two decades, Helmy said innovation was key.
He said SD Guthrie had turned to science and made advances such as GenomeSelect®, a high-yielding planting material that produces up to 20% more oil and fruits faster than previous varieties.
The seeds, commercialised in 2023, allow growers to increase yields on existing land without further expansion.
“Today’s palm is so efficient, you could replant land used to grow other oil crops, produce more oil, and return some land to forest,” he said. FMT
--------
Palm Oil’s Biggest Challenge: Negative Perception And Trust
NUSA DUA, Bali – The palm oil industry is now reaching a critical point in dealing with the global regulatory pressures and negative perception on palm oil. It was stated by Adjunct Professor Pietro Paganini from John Cabot University, Rome, during a panel discussion on the second day of the 21st IPOC 2025 on Friday (14/11/2025) at BICC The Westin Resort Nusa Dua, Bali.
In his presentation titled “EUDR and Beyond: Navigating New Frontiers for Palm Oil”, Paganini said that the biggest challenge facing the palm oil industry now is not productivity, but the problem of negative perception and trust. “Oil palm is the most productive and inclusive among all vegetable oils, but it has the worst reputation,” Paganini said.
According to him, the gap between facts and perceptions had made the palm oil often victimized as scapegoat, although the commodity plays a big role in eradicating poverty, fulfilling global need for nutrition, and efficiency in land use.
Regarding the implementation of EU Deforestation-free Regulation (EUDR), Paganini said the regulation stands as the beginning of new wave of global market standard.
He said that instead of seeing the EUDR merely as an obstacle, the palm oil industries should take it as new arena of competition to establish trust and added values.
“Zero deforestation and full traceability will become new standard of the global market. EUDR opens a global race to develop trust and innovations,” he asserted.
He appreciated the application of trial period of 24 months, a transition period of one year for small and medium enterprises and smallholders, and the establishment of practical communities and steering committees as a form of realistic compromise to ensure a more inclusive implementation.
Paganini said that technology should not be seen as cost burden, but as a strategic investment for competitiveness. “Technology is a new frontier for competitiveness and trust,” he said. GAPKI
--------
New Ceres’ report analyzes corporate progress on deforestation risks
BOSTON - With the world’s attention on the Brazilian Amazon where negotiations at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) are underway, Ceres today released a report that finds that dozens of companies in the most at-risk sectors are not taking key steps to end deforestation and conversion in their supply chains – but a few major companies are demonstrating that achieving this goal is possible.
While considerable action is needed to protect forests and other natural ecosystems, Ceres’ report, Corporate Progress on Deforestation Risk: Analysis for Investors, provides a detailed assessment of corporate progress and highlights business practices that effectively address deforestation risks. The report also identifies jurisdictional or landscape initiatives as a major opportunity to accelerate progress across sectors.
Specifically, Ceres found:
Cleaning up supply chains is possible: Five out of 53 companies disclose at least one commodity supply chain that is 100% deforestation-and conversion-free.
Leading companies report considerable progress: Major food product manufacturers like Danone SA and Nestlé SA disclose over 95% deforestation- and conversion-free sourcing for their palm oil, soy, and timber, paper, and pulp commodity supply chains. Nestlé also discloses a 100% deforestation- and conversion-free cattle supply chain and shows good faith efforts to further improve its cocoa supply chain through expanded traceability and monitoring.
More action across at-risk commodities is needed: Companies are most likely to disclose progress on their palm oil supply chains, but far fewer are sharing the extent to which they are managing cocoa-related risk. Transparency across all commodities, especially in early stages, is important for risk management.
Collaboration beyond individual supply chains offers huge opportunity: Nearly half of companies disclose involvement in jurisdictional or landscape initiatives, which are critical for addressing the systemic challenges at the root of ongoing deforestation and conversion.
“High on the COP30 agenda, safeguarding forests and natural ecosystems is critical to the resilience of the global economy and for helping companies and investors to reach their climate and nature goals,” said Meryl Richards, program director, food and forests at Ceres. “With many major companies committing to eliminate deforestation and conversion from their agricultural supply chains by 2025, Ceres’ report lays out where corporate action stands and where investors can focus their engagement work with companies.”
Land use change – primarily from forest clearing and the conversion of other natural ecosystems for agriculture – accounts for around 11% of global greenhouse gas emissions and up to11% of global biodiversity loss. If deforestation continues unchecked, associated risks could significantly diminish the value of the world’s largest food and agriculture companies, amounting to $150 billion in losses by 2030.
Ceres assessed the performance of 53 companies in the most at-risk sectors on whether they were implementing three strategies known to successfully reduce deforestation risk. These areas include: Ceres
--------
Malaysia’s palm oil giants pivot to AI data centres, solar projects to meet US$34 billion investment boom
GEORGE TOWN, Nov 19 — Malaysia’s palm oil giants, long criticised for deforestation, haze and threats to wildlife, are repositioning themselves as unlikely players in the country’s booming AI data centre market, according to Bloomberg.
According to the report, the companies are earmarking some of their vast land holdings for industrial parks equipped with data centres and solar panels, with the latter intended to feed the insatiable energy needs of the former.
Data centres are both energy- and land-intensive, and by 2035, they could require at least five gigawatts of electricity in Malaysia — nearly 20 per cent of the country’s current generation capacity.
Palm oil firms control more land than any other private entity in the country, making them natural candidates to host these facilities.
Bloomberg reported that Malaysia has become a hotspot for regional data centre growth. Last year, it was the fastest growing data centre market in the Asia Pacific, and roughly 40 per cent of all planned capacity in Southeast Asia is now slated for Malaysia, according to industry consultant DC Byte.
Over the past four years, US$34 billion (RM159 billion) in data centre investments has flowed into the country, with Alphabet Inc.’s Google committing US$2 billion (RM9.3 billion), Microsoft Corp. announcing US$2.2 billion (RM10.3 billion), and Amazon.com Inc. spending US$6.2 billion (RM29 billion).
The government aims to have 81 data centres operating by 2035, the report said.
Johor, just across the causeway from Singapore, has emerged as a hub of construction and server farms, including for Singapore Telecommunications Ltd., Nvidia Corp., and ByteDance Ltd. Bloomberg noted that delivering on promised renewable energy for these centres is proving challenging.
Sedenak Tech Park, one of Johor’s flagship sites, has informed potential tenants that promised water and power hookups under its second-phase expansion will only be ready in the fourth quarter of 2026, according to DC Byte.
The vacancy rate in Johor’s operational facilities is just 1.1 per cent, said Knight Frank, whose head of data centres for Asia Pacific, Fred Fitzalan Howard, added that six gigawatts of capacity are expected to be built over time.
This potential bottleneck has prompted palm oil leaders like SD Guthrie Bhd. to market themselves as both landowners and green power suppliers.
Group managing director Mohamad Helmy Othman Basha told Bloomberg: “This is where we can play a crucial, significant role in this ecosystem.”
The company, the world’s largest palm oil planter by acreage with more than 340,000 hectares in Malaysia, is pivoting to solar farms and industrial parks.
SD Guthrie has earmarked 10,000 hectares for such projects over the next decade, clearing old rubber estates and low-yielding palm plots near data centre and semiconductor hubs.
Helmy told Bloomberg the company aims to achieve one gigawatt of solar capacity within three years, enough to power up to 10 hyperscale data centres used for AI computing.
The new business is expected to account for about a third of SD Guthrie’s profits by the end of the decade. “Every inch of our land going forward will generate income,” he was quoted as saying.
Rivals are following suit Malay Mail
--------
Palm oil can help feed the world sustainably, says SD Guthrie MD
PETALING JAYA: Palm oil, if produced sustainably, can be a key solution to feeding a growing global population without expanding agricultural land, SD Guthrie group managing director Helmy Othman Basha said.
Helmy said palm oil was ubiquitous in everyday products, found in about half of supermarket items, and that its versatility made it highly valuable.
“Because it is versatile, it is accessible, and it can be produced sustainably by smallholders or large companies.
“What this means is that palm oil is a potential replacement for other edible oils,” he said in his keynote speech at the World Climate Summit 2025 in Belem, Brazil, last Friday.
However, the Malaysian Palm Oil Board chairman said that palm oil had long been unfairly blamed for deforestation and species loss, overshadowing the crop’s efficiency and responsible production practices.
Citing data from Our World in Data, Helmy said oil palm was four to 10 times more productive per hectare than any other edible oil crop.
“About 336 million hectares of land are planted with crops that produce edible oil. Of this, less than 10% or over 28 million hectares is planted with oil palm.
“But this 10% produces more than a third, between 33% and 40%, of all edible oils in the world. That’s about 75 to 80 million metric tonnes,” he said.
By comparison, Helmy said soybean, for example, occupied over 100 million hectares but produced less than 60 million tonnes of oil.
He also pointed to land use across agriculture where livestock occupies roughly 80% of total agricultural land, or 4.8 billion hectares, while oil palm makes up only 0.6%.
“Has the forest been cleared to plant oil palm? Yes, of course. Is most forest clearing because of oil palm? Not at all,” he said.
With global demand for edible oils and protein feedstock projected to rise by over 40% in the next two decades, Helmy said innovation was key.
He said SD Guthrie had turned to science and made advances such as GenomeSelect®, a high-yielding planting material that produces up to 20% more oil and fruits faster than previous varieties.
The seeds, commercialised in 2023, allow growers to increase yields on existing land without further expansion.
“Today’s palm is so efficient, you could replant land used to grow other oil crops, produce more oil, and return some land to forest,” he said. FMT
--------
Palm Oil’s Biggest Challenge: Negative Perception And Trust
NUSA DUA, Bali – The palm oil industry is now reaching a critical point in dealing with the global regulatory pressures and negative perception on palm oil. It was stated by Adjunct Professor Pietro Paganini from John Cabot University, Rome, during a panel discussion on the second day of the 21st IPOC 2025 on Friday (14/11/2025) at BICC The Westin Resort Nusa Dua, Bali.
In his presentation titled “EUDR and Beyond: Navigating New Frontiers for Palm Oil”, Paganini said that the biggest challenge facing the palm oil industry now is not productivity, but the problem of negative perception and trust. “Oil palm is the most productive and inclusive among all vegetable oils, but it has the worst reputation,” Paganini said.
According to him, the gap between facts and perceptions had made the palm oil often victimized as scapegoat, although the commodity plays a big role in eradicating poverty, fulfilling global need for nutrition, and efficiency in land use.
Regarding the implementation of EU Deforestation-free Regulation (EUDR), Paganini said the regulation stands as the beginning of new wave of global market standard.
He said that instead of seeing the EUDR merely as an obstacle, the palm oil industries should take it as new arena of competition to establish trust and added values.
“Zero deforestation and full traceability will become new standard of the global market. EUDR opens a global race to develop trust and innovations,” he asserted.
He appreciated the application of trial period of 24 months, a transition period of one year for small and medium enterprises and smallholders, and the establishment of practical communities and steering committees as a form of realistic compromise to ensure a more inclusive implementation.
Paganini said that technology should not be seen as cost burden, but as a strategic investment for competitiveness. “Technology is a new frontier for competitiveness and trust,” he said. GAPKI
--------
New Ceres’ report analyzes corporate progress on deforestation risks
BOSTON - With the world’s attention on the Brazilian Amazon where negotiations at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) are underway, Ceres today released a report that finds that dozens of companies in the most at-risk sectors are not taking key steps to end deforestation and conversion in their supply chains – but a few major companies are demonstrating that achieving this goal is possible.
While considerable action is needed to protect forests and other natural ecosystems, Ceres’ report, Corporate Progress on Deforestation Risk: Analysis for Investors, provides a detailed assessment of corporate progress and highlights business practices that effectively address deforestation risks. The report also identifies jurisdictional or landscape initiatives as a major opportunity to accelerate progress across sectors.
Specifically, Ceres found:
Cleaning up supply chains is possible: Five out of 53 companies disclose at least one commodity supply chain that is 100% deforestation-and conversion-free.
Leading companies report considerable progress: Major food product manufacturers like Danone SA and Nestlé SA disclose over 95% deforestation- and conversion-free sourcing for their palm oil, soy, and timber, paper, and pulp commodity supply chains. Nestlé also discloses a 100% deforestation- and conversion-free cattle supply chain and shows good faith efforts to further improve its cocoa supply chain through expanded traceability and monitoring.
More action across at-risk commodities is needed: Companies are most likely to disclose progress on their palm oil supply chains, but far fewer are sharing the extent to which they are managing cocoa-related risk. Transparency across all commodities, especially in early stages, is important for risk management.
Collaboration beyond individual supply chains offers huge opportunity: Nearly half of companies disclose involvement in jurisdictional or landscape initiatives, which are critical for addressing the systemic challenges at the root of ongoing deforestation and conversion.
“High on the COP30 agenda, safeguarding forests and natural ecosystems is critical to the resilience of the global economy and for helping companies and investors to reach their climate and nature goals,” said Meryl Richards, program director, food and forests at Ceres. “With many major companies committing to eliminate deforestation and conversion from their agricultural supply chains by 2025, Ceres’ report lays out where corporate action stands and where investors can focus their engagement work with companies.”
Land use change – primarily from forest clearing and the conversion of other natural ecosystems for agriculture – accounts for around 11% of global greenhouse gas emissions and up to11% of global biodiversity loss. If deforestation continues unchecked, associated risks could significantly diminish the value of the world’s largest food and agriculture companies, amounting to $150 billion in losses by 2030.
Ceres assessed the performance of 53 companies in the most at-risk sectors on whether they were implementing three strategies known to successfully reduce deforestation risk. These areas include: Ceres
--------
November 17, 2025
Malaysian palm oil industry plays crucial role in achieving net zero targets
The Malaysian palm oil industry has long practised zero waste principles by turning agricultural waste into useful resources, which also prevents carbon emissions from decomposition of waste.
Whether it is solid waste — comprising empty fruit bunches (EFB), fibre and shells — or liquid waste, which is the palm oil mill effluent (POME) generated from the processing of fresh fruit bunches to crude palm oil, all parts of the oil palm are turned into fertiliser, fuel and other products.
This is a crucial step towards achieving a true circular economy, where nothing is wasted, and it aligns with three of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDG): SDG 7 (affordable and clean energy), SDG 12 (responsible consumption and production) and SDG 13 (climate action).
These efforts by the palm oil industry also support Malaysia’s goal to achieve net zero emissions by 2050, which is outlined by policy documents like the National Energy Transition Roadmap and New Industrial Master Plan 2030.
The major palm oil industry players in the country have set their own net zero targets, alongside various sustainability goals that are aligned with the national targets and global demands.
To further support the industry, the Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC) published a study in November 2024 to drive the Malaysian palm oil industry towards carbon neutrality and net zero emissions.
The study, done in collaboration with Swinburne University of Technology (Sarawak campus), outlines a roadmap for the industry to reach net zero and strengthen its role as a global leader in climate-smart agriculture.
It also showcases the industry’s ability to achieve net zero emissions above the global average through compliance with the Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) certification. The Edge
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Malaysia pushes palm oil into science-based nutrition
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is positioning itself at the forefront of science-based nutrition research by integrating palm oil into healthier dietary applications, the Plantation and Commodities Ministry said.
Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani said the role of palm oil has become increasingly important as the world faces rising population growth, shifting dietary patterns and growing concerns over health and sustainability.
"Malaysia's policy for the palm oil sector continues to focus on enhancing productivity through technology, improving traceability through digitalisation and strengthening global confidence through certification and transparency.
"The Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil certification stands as clear proof that Malaysia is serious about producing palm oil that meets the highest environmental, social and governance standards," he said.
Johari made the remarks in his opening speech at the Nutrition Satellite Symposium, held in conjunction with the International Palm Oil Congress and Exhibition 2025. The speech was delivered on his behalf by the ministry's secretary-general, Datuk Yusran Shah Mohd Yusof.
He said the government, through the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB), is undertaking studies to evaluate the nutritional value, bioactive components and health impacts of palm oil to ensure that scientific findings contribute meaningfully to public health and dietary guidance. NST
--------
Rethinking common myths about the world’s most-used vegetable oil
Content by
Malaysian Palm Oil Council
While the palm oil industry has evolved significantly in recent decades, public skepticism remains, with research finding that many consumers still prefer products labeled ‘free from palm oil’ over those made with ‘sustainable palm oil’.
The industry has been working to address these concerns. In September 2025, the European Union acknowledged the role of Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) certification—a mandatory accreditation for the country’s entire palm oil production chain—in aligning Malaysia’s practices more closely with EU regulations that prevent the import and export of products linked to deforestation.
Whether the concern is sustainability or nutrition, knowing the facts about this widely used oil is crucial in understanding its role in the global supply chain.
Fact or fiction? CNN
--------
Malaysian palm oil industry plays crucial role in achieving net zero targets
The Malaysian palm oil industry has long practised zero waste principles by turning agricultural waste into useful resources, which also prevents carbon emissions from decomposition of waste.
Whether it is solid waste — comprising empty fruit bunches (EFB), fibre and shells — or liquid waste, which is the palm oil mill effluent (POME) generated from the processing of fresh fruit bunches to crude palm oil, all parts of the oil palm are turned into fertiliser, fuel and other products.
This is a crucial step towards achieving a true circular economy, where nothing is wasted, and it aligns with three of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDG): SDG 7 (affordable and clean energy), SDG 12 (responsible consumption and production) and SDG 13 (climate action).
These efforts by the palm oil industry also support Malaysia’s goal to achieve net zero emissions by 2050, which is outlined by policy documents like the National Energy Transition Roadmap and New Industrial Master Plan 2030.
The major palm oil industry players in the country have set their own net zero targets, alongside various sustainability goals that are aligned with the national targets and global demands.
To further support the industry, the Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC) published a study in November 2024 to drive the Malaysian palm oil industry towards carbon neutrality and net zero emissions.
The study, done in collaboration with Swinburne University of Technology (Sarawak campus), outlines a roadmap for the industry to reach net zero and strengthen its role as a global leader in climate-smart agriculture.
It also showcases the industry’s ability to achieve net zero emissions above the global average through compliance with the Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) certification. The Edge
--------
Malaysia pushes palm oil into science-based nutrition
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is positioning itself at the forefront of science-based nutrition research by integrating palm oil into healthier dietary applications, the Plantation and Commodities Ministry said.
Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani said the role of palm oil has become increasingly important as the world faces rising population growth, shifting dietary patterns and growing concerns over health and sustainability.
"Malaysia's policy for the palm oil sector continues to focus on enhancing productivity through technology, improving traceability through digitalisation and strengthening global confidence through certification and transparency.
"The Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil certification stands as clear proof that Malaysia is serious about producing palm oil that meets the highest environmental, social and governance standards," he said.
Johari made the remarks in his opening speech at the Nutrition Satellite Symposium, held in conjunction with the International Palm Oil Congress and Exhibition 2025. The speech was delivered on his behalf by the ministry's secretary-general, Datuk Yusran Shah Mohd Yusof.
He said the government, through the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB), is undertaking studies to evaluate the nutritional value, bioactive components and health impacts of palm oil to ensure that scientific findings contribute meaningfully to public health and dietary guidance. NST
--------
Rethinking common myths about the world’s most-used vegetable oil
Content by
Malaysian Palm Oil Council
While the palm oil industry has evolved significantly in recent decades, public skepticism remains, with research finding that many consumers still prefer products labeled ‘free from palm oil’ over those made with ‘sustainable palm oil’.
The industry has been working to address these concerns. In September 2025, the European Union acknowledged the role of Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) certification—a mandatory accreditation for the country’s entire palm oil production chain—in aligning Malaysia’s practices more closely with EU regulations that prevent the import and export of products linked to deforestation.
Whether the concern is sustainability or nutrition, knowing the facts about this widely used oil is crucial in understanding its role in the global supply chain.
Fact or fiction? CNN
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November 16, 2025
Five Globally Endangered Species Live in Indonesia
https://en.tempo.co/photo/124515/five-globally-endangered-species-live-in-indonesia
--------
Crunching Snacks and Slurping Noodles... Orangutans Are Dying [Delicious Stories]
by Lim Juhyeong
Orangutan Habitats Overlap with Oil Palm Plantations
Slash-and-Burn Farming and Plantations Leave Orangutans Homeless and Starving
Fewer Than 70,000 Remain... Facing the Threat of Extinction
Orangutans may face extinction because of snacks. Although the two may seem completely unrelated, in reality, orangutans have become victims of the global processed food industry's expansion. This is because their habitats have been destroyed to enable the mass production of palm oil, a key ingredient in snacks.
Palm Oil Is Found in 50% of Supermarket Products
Palm oil is used as a main ingredient in nearly all processed foods. It is found not only in snacks, bread, instant noodles, and chocolate, but also in products like soap and toothpaste. Extracted from the fruit of the oil palm, palm oil is much cheaper than animal fats such as tallow, and its versatility makes it efficient for use in various light manufacturing processes. According to the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), the world's largest nonprofit nature conservation organization, palm oil is used in 50% of products distributed in supermarkets today. In some countries, including the United States, it is also processed into biofuel or animal feed. Asia Business Daily
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Aceh authorities clear 18.5 hectares of illegal oil palm
anda Aceh, Aceh (ANTARA) - Authorities in Aceh have removed 18.5 hectares of illegal oil palm planted inside a protected forest in Babahrot Subdistrict, Aceh Barat Daya District, officials said on Saturday, calling the move necessary to enforce land-use rules and support community forestry programs.
Syukramizar, acting head of technical guidance and forest protection at the Region IX Forest Management Unit (KPH), said the oil palm cultivation violated a 2021 environment ministry regulation that prohibits planting palm oil within social forestry areas.
The clearance followed reports from community forest groups applying for social forestry permits who found the illegal crops inside their proposed sites.
A 20-member joint team, including forest rangers, civil investigators, KPHL Unit XII officers, the military and police, was deployed to identify and dismantle the trees.
The illegal plots stretched from KM 18 to KM 25 along the road linking Aceh Barat Daya and Gayo Lues.
Syukramizar said the operation proceeded smoothly and covered land claimed under applications from three community forest groups: Sejahtera Bersama, Tuah Nanggroe and Tuah Seudong Rimba.
The groups underwent technical verification in August 2025 by the Social Forestry Agency, the Forest Area Consolidation Agency and the Aceh Environment and Forestry Office.
He said authorities had conducted outreach and warned residents before the operation, urging those responsible for the plantings to remove them voluntarily. The illegal expansion continued, prompting the joint enforcement action.
Syukramizar called on residents to protect the forest and avoid illegal activities such as encroachment, logging and the cultivation of non-forest commodities.
He said those wishing to grow oil palm should do so outside forest areas, which should instead be used for multi-purpose tree species such as durian, avocado, stink beans (petai) and jengkol beans (jengkol).
The Indonesian government is taking a firm stance against illegal oil palm plantations.
During a dialogue with Steve Forbes at the Forbes Global CEO Conference 2025 in Jakarta on Wednesday night, Oct. 15, 2025, President Prabowo Subianto said he had ordered the military to assist prosecutors in seizing two illegal plantations totaling 100,000 hectares, as mandated by a Supreme Court ruling issued 18 years ago.
He added that the state has now taken control of an estimated 3.7 million hectares of illegal oil palm plantations nationwide. Antara News
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MPOGCF, Perhilitan Host Inaugural National Symposium On Asian Elephant Conservation
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 16 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Palm Oil Green Conservation Foundation (MPOGCF), in collaboration with the Department of Wildlife and National Parks Peninsular Malaysia (Perhilitan), is hosting the inaugural National Symposium on Asian Elephant Conservation and Management.
The three-day symposium, taking place at Felda Residence Tanjung Leman, Mersing, Johor, from today until Tuesday, serves as a national platform to promote a modern, data-driven and landscape-integrated approach to elephant management.
Themed “Kehidupan Bersama”, the programme highlights Malaysia’s ability to integrate development priorities with biodiversity sustainability, in line with the National Elephant Conservation Action Plan 2023-2030 (NECAP 2.0) and the country’s commitments under the Siem Reap Declaration for Asian Elephant Conservation 2025.
“It reflects Malaysia’s commitment to further enhancing conservation efforts, including strengthening ecological corridor networks, adopting advanced monitoring technologies, and implementing large-scale spatial planning,” said MPOGCF in a statement today.
Through the involvement of biologists, landscape managers, policymakers, industry players and the research community, the foundation said the symposium is expected to position Malaysia as a regional reference for the sustainable, scientific and multi-stakeholder management of Asian elephants.
According to MPOGCF, the symposium is bringing together 100 participants, including representatives from government agencies, academic institutions, NGOs and the palm oil industry.
A total of 20 working papers will be presented by experts and researchers from MPOGCF, Perhilitan, the Department of Town and Country Planning (PLANMalaysia), Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) and Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP), as well as by palm oil industry players and NGOs.
Discussions at the symposium cover three key areas, namely Habitat, Corridor, Connectivity and Landscape Management Strategies for Elephant Conservation; Use of Technology in Elephant Conflict Management; and Best Management Practices.
Meanwhile, Perhilitan director-general Datuk Abdul Kadir Abu Hashim said the symposium was a starting point for closer cooperation among all stakeholders to ensure the survival of the Asian elephant population and maintain ecological balance in Malaysian forests.
MPOGCF general manager Hairulazim Mahmud said the foundation remained committed to serving as a bridge between the industry and government in carrying out high-impact conservation projects nationwide.
“The collaboration between Perhilitan’s technical expertise and industry support through MPOGCF opens a new chapter in the country’s conservation landscape, particularly in mitigating elephant conflicts in oil palm plantation areas and educating communities to strike a balance between humans and wildlife,” he said in the statement. BERNAMAwww.bernama.com/en/news.php/?id=2491325
--------
Five Globally Endangered Species Live in Indonesia
https://en.tempo.co/photo/124515/five-globally-endangered-species-live-in-indonesia
--------
Crunching Snacks and Slurping Noodles... Orangutans Are Dying [Delicious Stories]
by Lim Juhyeong
Orangutan Habitats Overlap with Oil Palm Plantations
Slash-and-Burn Farming and Plantations Leave Orangutans Homeless and Starving
Fewer Than 70,000 Remain... Facing the Threat of Extinction
Orangutans may face extinction because of snacks. Although the two may seem completely unrelated, in reality, orangutans have become victims of the global processed food industry's expansion. This is because their habitats have been destroyed to enable the mass production of palm oil, a key ingredient in snacks.
Palm Oil Is Found in 50% of Supermarket Products
Palm oil is used as a main ingredient in nearly all processed foods. It is found not only in snacks, bread, instant noodles, and chocolate, but also in products like soap and toothpaste. Extracted from the fruit of the oil palm, palm oil is much cheaper than animal fats such as tallow, and its versatility makes it efficient for use in various light manufacturing processes. According to the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), the world's largest nonprofit nature conservation organization, palm oil is used in 50% of products distributed in supermarkets today. In some countries, including the United States, it is also processed into biofuel or animal feed. Asia Business Daily
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Aceh authorities clear 18.5 hectares of illegal oil palm
anda Aceh, Aceh (ANTARA) - Authorities in Aceh have removed 18.5 hectares of illegal oil palm planted inside a protected forest in Babahrot Subdistrict, Aceh Barat Daya District, officials said on Saturday, calling the move necessary to enforce land-use rules and support community forestry programs.
Syukramizar, acting head of technical guidance and forest protection at the Region IX Forest Management Unit (KPH), said the oil palm cultivation violated a 2021 environment ministry regulation that prohibits planting palm oil within social forestry areas.
The clearance followed reports from community forest groups applying for social forestry permits who found the illegal crops inside their proposed sites.
A 20-member joint team, including forest rangers, civil investigators, KPHL Unit XII officers, the military and police, was deployed to identify and dismantle the trees.
The illegal plots stretched from KM 18 to KM 25 along the road linking Aceh Barat Daya and Gayo Lues.
Syukramizar said the operation proceeded smoothly and covered land claimed under applications from three community forest groups: Sejahtera Bersama, Tuah Nanggroe and Tuah Seudong Rimba.
The groups underwent technical verification in August 2025 by the Social Forestry Agency, the Forest Area Consolidation Agency and the Aceh Environment and Forestry Office.
He said authorities had conducted outreach and warned residents before the operation, urging those responsible for the plantings to remove them voluntarily. The illegal expansion continued, prompting the joint enforcement action.
Syukramizar called on residents to protect the forest and avoid illegal activities such as encroachment, logging and the cultivation of non-forest commodities.
He said those wishing to grow oil palm should do so outside forest areas, which should instead be used for multi-purpose tree species such as durian, avocado, stink beans (petai) and jengkol beans (jengkol).
The Indonesian government is taking a firm stance against illegal oil palm plantations.
During a dialogue with Steve Forbes at the Forbes Global CEO Conference 2025 in Jakarta on Wednesday night, Oct. 15, 2025, President Prabowo Subianto said he had ordered the military to assist prosecutors in seizing two illegal plantations totaling 100,000 hectares, as mandated by a Supreme Court ruling issued 18 years ago.
He added that the state has now taken control of an estimated 3.7 million hectares of illegal oil palm plantations nationwide. Antara News
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MPOGCF, Perhilitan Host Inaugural National Symposium On Asian Elephant Conservation
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 16 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Palm Oil Green Conservation Foundation (MPOGCF), in collaboration with the Department of Wildlife and National Parks Peninsular Malaysia (Perhilitan), is hosting the inaugural National Symposium on Asian Elephant Conservation and Management.
The three-day symposium, taking place at Felda Residence Tanjung Leman, Mersing, Johor, from today until Tuesday, serves as a national platform to promote a modern, data-driven and landscape-integrated approach to elephant management.
Themed “Kehidupan Bersama”, the programme highlights Malaysia’s ability to integrate development priorities with biodiversity sustainability, in line with the National Elephant Conservation Action Plan 2023-2030 (NECAP 2.0) and the country’s commitments under the Siem Reap Declaration for Asian Elephant Conservation 2025.
“It reflects Malaysia’s commitment to further enhancing conservation efforts, including strengthening ecological corridor networks, adopting advanced monitoring technologies, and implementing large-scale spatial planning,” said MPOGCF in a statement today.
Through the involvement of biologists, landscape managers, policymakers, industry players and the research community, the foundation said the symposium is expected to position Malaysia as a regional reference for the sustainable, scientific and multi-stakeholder management of Asian elephants.
According to MPOGCF, the symposium is bringing together 100 participants, including representatives from government agencies, academic institutions, NGOs and the palm oil industry.
A total of 20 working papers will be presented by experts and researchers from MPOGCF, Perhilitan, the Department of Town and Country Planning (PLANMalaysia), Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) and Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP), as well as by palm oil industry players and NGOs.
Discussions at the symposium cover three key areas, namely Habitat, Corridor, Connectivity and Landscape Management Strategies for Elephant Conservation; Use of Technology in Elephant Conflict Management; and Best Management Practices.
Meanwhile, Perhilitan director-general Datuk Abdul Kadir Abu Hashim said the symposium was a starting point for closer cooperation among all stakeholders to ensure the survival of the Asian elephant population and maintain ecological balance in Malaysian forests.
MPOGCF general manager Hairulazim Mahmud said the foundation remained committed to serving as a bridge between the industry and government in carrying out high-impact conservation projects nationwide.
“The collaboration between Perhilitan’s technical expertise and industry support through MPOGCF opens a new chapter in the country’s conservation landscape, particularly in mitigating elephant conflicts in oil palm plantation areas and educating communities to strike a balance between humans and wildlife,” he said in the statement. BERNAMAwww.bernama.com/en/news.php/?id=2491325
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November 15, 2025
The real test of the EU-Indonesia trade deal will be palm oil
The conclusion of the Indonesia-European Union Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IEU-CEPA) represents a significant political achievement. After more than 10 years of negotiation, the 27-member European Union and Southeast Asia's largest economy have cemented their economic ties.
The stakes are high: global trade is fragmenting and the predictable patterns of the past three decades are changing. Trade between economies that value predictable rules and cooperation has become vital for both our regions. The agreement therefore comes at exactly the right time. Both Indonesia and the EU are sizeable economies; they do not have the weight of the US and China, but together they represent a heft and geographical breadth that is significant.
Palm oil was one of the most contentious issues, causing long delays and difficult negotiations. Now that a deal has been reached, it's worth examining what the agreement does – and doesn't do – for the palm oil industry.
For Indonesia's palm oil sector, the agreement creates tangible near-term opportunities – but only if implementation is executed with discipline and sustained engagement.
The market access provisions offer clear opportunities for Indonesian palm oil exports, particularly refined products. Upon entry into force, 1.9 million tonnes of crude and refined palm oil will enter the EU tariff-free, rising to 2.479 million tonnes from the ninth year. For palm-kernel oil, the tariff-free volume stands at 140,000 tonnes, expanding to 182,668 tonnes from year nine. Beyond these quotas, tariffs will likely be around three percent.
Against the EU's most-favoured-nation schedule, this translates into substantial preference margins: between 9 and 12.8 percent for some refined palm fractions and 6.4 to 12.8% for palm-kernel oil within quota limits. There are meaningful advantages outside those limits too. In short, the agreement improves the landed-cost position of Indonesian palm oil in the EU market, especially for refined products.
These quotas carry real economic weight. Based on recent EU import levels, the palm oil quota covers more than one-third of current market volumes, while the palm-kernel oil quota approaches one-fifth. With these quotas in place, that share can grow. The largest gains are expected in refined and fractionated products, where existing tariffs are highest.
But it isn't a free-for-all. Rules of origin determine whether a product qualifies under the free trade agreement. For example, crude palm oil cannot be imported into Indonesia, refined, and then exported under the agreement. The benefits of lower tariffs will go to products derived from Indonesian fruit and kernels. This rewards growers and processors who invest in segregated supply chains with clear origins. It also incentivises exports of more refined products to the EU, encouraging greater investment in Indonesian processing capacity.
On sustainability, the Palm Oil Annex acknowledges the Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil (ISPO) certification system and encourages cooperation on palm sustainability. While these commitments are not hard obligations, they provide an official platform to demonstrate ISPO's strengthening to European stakeholders and to build technical cooperation.
It's important to note that the annex references the EU Deforestation Regulation but does not directly address it beyond cooperation measures. Compliance with the repeatedly delayed EUDR remains a separate obligation for any exporter targeting the EU market.
The Trade and Sustainable Development (TSD) chapter is binding under this agreement – and this is novel. Under most agreements, including the EU's, disputes over sustainability cannot be escalated to the same level as disputes over tariffs. Under this agreement they can. This raises the stakes considerably for international obligations, particularly on labour. European NGOs will be watching closely.
The institutional provisions – an annual Trade Committee, a TSD Committee, and Domestic Advisory Groups – are not mere formalities. Indonesian industry stakeholders must maintain an active presence. They should establish a standing channel to the TSD Committee and secure representation in the Domestic Advisory Group to ensure that practical experience on sustainability directly informs decision-making from the outset.
It's worth remembering that governments don't trade – businesses do. Translating the agreement into increased market share and domestic value-addition requires an active implementation agenda. Those wanting to exploit lower tariffs will need to ensure segregated supply chains. The annex's acknowledgement of ISPO can be leveraged to align with EUDR due diligence obligations and buyer specifications. Memoranda of understanding with EU industry bodies will facilitate data exchange and industry cooperation.
One hurdle remains: ratification. Views within Indonesian industry are not uniform. Some sectors would prefer that ongoing WTO disputes be resolved and that certain EU measures, including aspects of the Renewable Energy Directive, be brought into conformity with international obligations before the agreement is signed. These concerns are legitimate.
But the agreement's balanced package – market access, institutionalised cooperation and a binding sustainability chapter – offers a concrete, near-term pathway to protect and expand Indonesia's legitimate trade interests. The opportunity is real, but it demands active engagement, not just an expectation it will 'just happen'. EU Observer
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Palm Oil Industry Analysis in the USA 2025 to 2035
The demand for palm oil in the USA is projected to grow from USD 2.73 billion in 2025 to approximately USD 3.90 billion by 2035, recording an absolute increase of USD 1.17 billion over the forecast period. This translates into total growth of 42.86%, with demand forecast to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.50% between 2025 and 2035.
Overall sales are expected to grow by nearly 1.43X during the same period, supported by increasing consumer preference for versatile cooking oils nationwide, rising adoption of refined palm oil varieties and food processing applications, and growing integration in oleochemical, biofuel, and food manufacturing sectors. The USA, characterized by advanced food processing infrastructure and established industrial capabilities, continues to demonstrate robust growth potential driven by population growth and expanding commercial applications.
Quick Stats for USA Palm Oil Demand
USA Palm Oil Sales Value (2025): USD 2.73 billion
USA Palm Oil Forecast Value (2035): USD 3.90 billion
USA Palm Oil Forecast CAGR: 3.50%
Leading Product Category in USA Palm Oil Demand: Crude Palm Oil (46.80%)
Key Growth Regions in USA Palm Oil Demand: West, Northeast, Midwest, and South
Regional Leadership: West holds the leading position in demand
Key Players in USA Palm Oil Demand: Wilmar International Limited, Sime Darby Plantation Berhad, Golden Agri-Resources Ltd, Musim Mas Holdings Pte Ltd, IOI Corporation Berhad, Bunge Limited
Between 2025 and 2030, demand for palm oil in the USA is projected to expand from USD 2.73 billion to USD 3.25 billion, resulting in a value increase of USD 0.52 billion, which represents 44.44% of the total forecast growth for the decade. This phase of growth will be shaped by rising sustainable sourcing preferences and certified palm oil adoption across USA food facilities, particularly in manufacturing centers where corporate responsibility standards and environmental compliance are accelerating palm oil deployment. Increasing integration of refined palm oil applications in food processing and growing adoption of sustainable sourcing technologies continue to drive demand. Food manufacturers are expanding their ingredient capabilities to address the growing complexity of modern consumer requirements and performance specifications, with USA operations leading investments in certified palm oil systems.
From 2030 to 2035, demand is forecast to grow from USD 3.25 billion to USD 3.90 billion, adding another USD 0.65 billion, which constitutes 55.56% of the overall ten-year expansion. This period is expected to be characterized by expansion of premium certified palm oil integration, development of advanced specialty applications and sustainable formulations, and implementation of specialized traceability systems across different food applications. The growing adoption of environmental responsibility principles and enhanced sustainability requirements, particularly in West Coast and Northeast regions, will drive demand for more sophisticated palm oil systems and integrated sustainable sourcing platforms.
Between 2020 and 2025, palm oil demand in the USA experienced steady expansion, driven by increasing food processing requirements in manufacturing sectors and growing awareness of palm oil benefits for cost-effective cooking applications and industrial uses. The sector developed as food companies and oleochemical manufacturers, especially in major industrial corridors, recognized the need for proven vegetable oil solutions and reliable ingredient systems to achieve operational targets while meeting cost efficiency expectations and regulatory requirements. Palm oil suppliers and processing providers began emphasizing proper quality integration and supply optimization to maintain competitive advantages and commercial viability.
USA Palm Oil Demand Key Takeaways
Why is the USA Palm Oil Demand Growing?
Demand expansion is being supported by the accelerating emphasis on cost-effective ingredient consumption and food processing transformation nationwide, with the USA maintaining its position as a food manufacturing and industrial processing leadership region, and the corresponding need for effective vegetable oil systems for production management, quality control processing, and performance integration. Modern food manufacturers rely on palm oil technologies to ensure operational competitiveness, ingredient cost compliance, and optimal pathway achievement toward efficient production operations. Advanced operational requirements necessitate comprehensive vegetable oil solutions including specialized processing capabilities, quality control systems, and cost optimization infrastructure to address diverse application needs and performance specifications.
The growing emphasis on sustainable sourcing adoption and increasing federal and state-level environmental regulations, particularly certified palm oil programs across the USA, are driving demand for palm oil systems from proven suppliers with appropriate food expertise and quality management capabilities. Food manufacturers and oleochemical companies are increasingly investing in palm oil sourcing and integrated sustainable solutions to enhance operational profiles, access cost optimization trends, and demonstrate environmental leadership in competitive commercial environments. Environmental policies and sustainability compliance requirements are establishing standardized sourcing pathways that require certified palm oil systems and performance assurance, with USA operations often pioneering large-scale implementation of advanced palm oil technologies.
Opportunity Pathways - Demand for Palm Oil in the United States
The palm oil demand in the USA is positioned for robust expansion, growing from USD 2.73 billion in 2025 to USD 3.90 billion by 2035, reflecting a 3.50% CAGR. Rising adoption of versatile vegetable oil systems in food processing operations, oleochemical facilities, and biofuel applications is driving growth as manufacturers seek palm oil solutions that maximize cost efficiency and comply with stringent ingredient standards. Additionally, demand from refined palm oil applications and advanced processing implementations strengthens opportunities for both sophisticated sustainable platforms and integrated ingredient solutions.
Manufacturers focusing on sustainable sourcing implementations, cost-effective processing integration, and advanced specialty capabilities stand to gain from evolving operational standards and customer expectations for quality processing, reliability, and supply optimization.
Pathway A - Sustainable Sourcing Implementations and Food Processing Applications. Food manufacturers face increasing demands for reliable sustainable solutions in modern processing facilities. Certified palm oil enables enhanced supply transparency and comprehensive monitoring capabilities without compromising production performance. Solutions targeting large-scale manufacturers, food companies, and processing facilities can achieve strong adoption rates through sustainability optimization and reliability improvements. Estimated revenue opportunity: USD 185.00--265.00 million.
Pathway B - Cost-effective Processing and Advanced Refining Systems. The growth in food processing optimization, ingredient cost management, and production operational management creates robust demand for refined palm oil ensuring efficiency in manufacturing processes. Manufacturers offering cost-effective processing solutions for food applications can build relationships with equipment suppliers and ingredient integrators. Estimated revenue opportunity: USD 145.00--210.00 million.
Pathway C - Crude Palm Oil and Industrial Applications. Food manufacturers are increasingly adopting crude palm oil systems for consistent cost control. Collaborations with equipment manufacturers for integrated industrial solutions can unlock large-volume supply contracts and long-term partnerships in precision food applications. Estimated revenue opportunity: USD 125.00--185.00 million.
Pathway D - Oleochemical and Industrial Solutions. Environmental requirements and operational flexibility demands are driving preference for technical-grade palm oil platforms with superior processing capabilities. Suppliers offering comprehensive oleochemical solutions with exceptional operational characteristics can differentiate offerings and attract environmentally-focused organizations. Estimated revenue opportunity: USD 105.00--150.00 million.
Pathway E - Biofuel and Energy Applications. Critical energy applications require specialized palm oil configurations with optimized processing features and enhanced fuel properties. Manufacturers investing in biofuel development can secure advantages in serving performance-critical energy applications. Estimated revenue opportunity: USD 85.00--125.00 million.
Pathway F - Service and Support Networks. Comprehensive service networks offering deployment, training, and ongoing operational support create recurring revenue opportunities. Companies building strong technical support capabilities can capture ongoing relationships and enhance customer satisfaction across food processing facilities. Estimated revenue opportunity: USD 65.00--95.00 million.
Segmental Analysis
The demand is segmented by product, end use, and region. By product, sales are divided into crude palm oil, refined palm oil, palm kernel oil, and others categories. In terms of end use, demand is segmented into food processing, oleochemicals, biofuel, and others. Regionally, demand is divided into West, Northeast, Midwest, and South, with West representing a key growth and innovation hub for palm oil technologies.
By Product, Crude Palm Oil Segment Accounts for 46.80% Share FACTMR
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Fuelling the future with UCOs energy for the UK
From waste stream to sustainable energy. Suzanne McKenzie, Sales Director at Lifecycle Oils on how cooking oil is being transformed into biofuel
The UK’s food industry produces millions of litres of used cooking oil (UCO) every day via food service outlets and food manufacturers. Historically this UCO was treated as a waste product, presenting significant challenges in disposal and compliance. When not properly disposed of, fats, oils and grease (FOG) can lead to severe drain blockages, environmental pollution and hefty fines for businesses under the Water Industry Act 1991.
Yet today, our attitudes towards waste have come full circle, and UCO is now a valuable feedstock for advanced, second-generation biofuels. That is why we buy used cooking oil from the food businesses, turning it into a revenue stream for them.
From a sustainability perspective, there are huge benefits from using UCO to create biofuels. Unlike first-generation biofuels made from virgin crops like palm oil or rapeseed, UCO-derived fuels do not create competition for land that could be used for food production, nor do they drive agricultural expansion, deforestation, or biodiversity loss.
By repurposing a waste stream, we are sidestepping the significant carbon emissions associated with additional agricultural production and land-use change. We’re also not competing with the food chain, which can drive price pressures in the edible oils market.
There are also huge carbon savings when compared to conventional fossil fuels. Biodiesel from UCO produces around 80-90 per cent less carbon than fossil fuel diesel, and 40 per cent less carbon than first-generation biofuels made from virgin feedstocks.
A CLOSED-LOOP SERVICE IN ACTION
At Lifecycle Oils, we run a fully closed-loop service that manages the entire lifecycle of cooking oil, transforming it from a potential liability into a renewable energy resource. This is how the process works.
Sustainable Supply and Management: We begin by supplying the food industry with sustainably sourced fresh cooking oils. We then provide FOG management services to help businesses prevent costly blockages and remain compliant with environmental regulations.
Nationwide Collection: We collect the UCO from a wide network of food manufacturers, foodservice providers, oil aggregators and household waste sites. Our logistics are tailored for the industry, handling a range of containers including 60L barrels, 120L wheelie bins, 1,000L Intermediate Bulk Containers (IBCs) and even oil tankers.
Advanced Biofuel Processing: The collected UCO is transported to a new, state-of-the-art biofuels processing plant in Wednesbury, West Midlands, where it is turned into our own patented LF100 biofuel and other biofuel feedstocks.
Biofuel supply: We then sell the LF100 to UK manufacturers, as well as the entertainment and leisure industry, where it is used in generators to power a wide range of operations. We sell other biofuel feedstocks for further processing into various biofuels, such as Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO).
PRODUCING SUSTAINABLE BIOFUELS
To achieve the volumes needed, the Wednesbury facility opened in May 2025. This modern biofuel plant in the Midlands can produce millions of litres of biofuel and biofuel products every week. It’s where LF100 biofuel is produced, a second-generation biofuel designed to be as sustainable as possible, eliminating the chemical treatment stage traditionally required to turn UCO into biofuel. Instead, a multi-stage filtration and extended warm settling process is used, which takes approximately 14 days to complete. FMJUK
The real test of the EU-Indonesia trade deal will be palm oil
The conclusion of the Indonesia-European Union Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IEU-CEPA) represents a significant political achievement. After more than 10 years of negotiation, the 27-member European Union and Southeast Asia's largest economy have cemented their economic ties.
The stakes are high: global trade is fragmenting and the predictable patterns of the past three decades are changing. Trade between economies that value predictable rules and cooperation has become vital for both our regions. The agreement therefore comes at exactly the right time. Both Indonesia and the EU are sizeable economies; they do not have the weight of the US and China, but together they represent a heft and geographical breadth that is significant.
Palm oil was one of the most contentious issues, causing long delays and difficult negotiations. Now that a deal has been reached, it's worth examining what the agreement does – and doesn't do – for the palm oil industry.
For Indonesia's palm oil sector, the agreement creates tangible near-term opportunities – but only if implementation is executed with discipline and sustained engagement.
The market access provisions offer clear opportunities for Indonesian palm oil exports, particularly refined products. Upon entry into force, 1.9 million tonnes of crude and refined palm oil will enter the EU tariff-free, rising to 2.479 million tonnes from the ninth year. For palm-kernel oil, the tariff-free volume stands at 140,000 tonnes, expanding to 182,668 tonnes from year nine. Beyond these quotas, tariffs will likely be around three percent.
Against the EU's most-favoured-nation schedule, this translates into substantial preference margins: between 9 and 12.8 percent for some refined palm fractions and 6.4 to 12.8% for palm-kernel oil within quota limits. There are meaningful advantages outside those limits too. In short, the agreement improves the landed-cost position of Indonesian palm oil in the EU market, especially for refined products.
These quotas carry real economic weight. Based on recent EU import levels, the palm oil quota covers more than one-third of current market volumes, while the palm-kernel oil quota approaches one-fifth. With these quotas in place, that share can grow. The largest gains are expected in refined and fractionated products, where existing tariffs are highest.
But it isn't a free-for-all. Rules of origin determine whether a product qualifies under the free trade agreement. For example, crude palm oil cannot be imported into Indonesia, refined, and then exported under the agreement. The benefits of lower tariffs will go to products derived from Indonesian fruit and kernels. This rewards growers and processors who invest in segregated supply chains with clear origins. It also incentivises exports of more refined products to the EU, encouraging greater investment in Indonesian processing capacity.
On sustainability, the Palm Oil Annex acknowledges the Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil (ISPO) certification system and encourages cooperation on palm sustainability. While these commitments are not hard obligations, they provide an official platform to demonstrate ISPO's strengthening to European stakeholders and to build technical cooperation.
It's important to note that the annex references the EU Deforestation Regulation but does not directly address it beyond cooperation measures. Compliance with the repeatedly delayed EUDR remains a separate obligation for any exporter targeting the EU market.
The Trade and Sustainable Development (TSD) chapter is binding under this agreement – and this is novel. Under most agreements, including the EU's, disputes over sustainability cannot be escalated to the same level as disputes over tariffs. Under this agreement they can. This raises the stakes considerably for international obligations, particularly on labour. European NGOs will be watching closely.
The institutional provisions – an annual Trade Committee, a TSD Committee, and Domestic Advisory Groups – are not mere formalities. Indonesian industry stakeholders must maintain an active presence. They should establish a standing channel to the TSD Committee and secure representation in the Domestic Advisory Group to ensure that practical experience on sustainability directly informs decision-making from the outset.
It's worth remembering that governments don't trade – businesses do. Translating the agreement into increased market share and domestic value-addition requires an active implementation agenda. Those wanting to exploit lower tariffs will need to ensure segregated supply chains. The annex's acknowledgement of ISPO can be leveraged to align with EUDR due diligence obligations and buyer specifications. Memoranda of understanding with EU industry bodies will facilitate data exchange and industry cooperation.
One hurdle remains: ratification. Views within Indonesian industry are not uniform. Some sectors would prefer that ongoing WTO disputes be resolved and that certain EU measures, including aspects of the Renewable Energy Directive, be brought into conformity with international obligations before the agreement is signed. These concerns are legitimate.
But the agreement's balanced package – market access, institutionalised cooperation and a binding sustainability chapter – offers a concrete, near-term pathway to protect and expand Indonesia's legitimate trade interests. The opportunity is real, but it demands active engagement, not just an expectation it will 'just happen'. EU Observer
--------
Palm Oil Industry Analysis in the USA 2025 to 2035
The demand for palm oil in the USA is projected to grow from USD 2.73 billion in 2025 to approximately USD 3.90 billion by 2035, recording an absolute increase of USD 1.17 billion over the forecast period. This translates into total growth of 42.86%, with demand forecast to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.50% between 2025 and 2035.
Overall sales are expected to grow by nearly 1.43X during the same period, supported by increasing consumer preference for versatile cooking oils nationwide, rising adoption of refined palm oil varieties and food processing applications, and growing integration in oleochemical, biofuel, and food manufacturing sectors. The USA, characterized by advanced food processing infrastructure and established industrial capabilities, continues to demonstrate robust growth potential driven by population growth and expanding commercial applications.
Quick Stats for USA Palm Oil Demand
USA Palm Oil Sales Value (2025): USD 2.73 billion
USA Palm Oil Forecast Value (2035): USD 3.90 billion
USA Palm Oil Forecast CAGR: 3.50%
Leading Product Category in USA Palm Oil Demand: Crude Palm Oil (46.80%)
Key Growth Regions in USA Palm Oil Demand: West, Northeast, Midwest, and South
Regional Leadership: West holds the leading position in demand
Key Players in USA Palm Oil Demand: Wilmar International Limited, Sime Darby Plantation Berhad, Golden Agri-Resources Ltd, Musim Mas Holdings Pte Ltd, IOI Corporation Berhad, Bunge Limited
Between 2025 and 2030, demand for palm oil in the USA is projected to expand from USD 2.73 billion to USD 3.25 billion, resulting in a value increase of USD 0.52 billion, which represents 44.44% of the total forecast growth for the decade. This phase of growth will be shaped by rising sustainable sourcing preferences and certified palm oil adoption across USA food facilities, particularly in manufacturing centers where corporate responsibility standards and environmental compliance are accelerating palm oil deployment. Increasing integration of refined palm oil applications in food processing and growing adoption of sustainable sourcing technologies continue to drive demand. Food manufacturers are expanding their ingredient capabilities to address the growing complexity of modern consumer requirements and performance specifications, with USA operations leading investments in certified palm oil systems.
From 2030 to 2035, demand is forecast to grow from USD 3.25 billion to USD 3.90 billion, adding another USD 0.65 billion, which constitutes 55.56% of the overall ten-year expansion. This period is expected to be characterized by expansion of premium certified palm oil integration, development of advanced specialty applications and sustainable formulations, and implementation of specialized traceability systems across different food applications. The growing adoption of environmental responsibility principles and enhanced sustainability requirements, particularly in West Coast and Northeast regions, will drive demand for more sophisticated palm oil systems and integrated sustainable sourcing platforms.
Between 2020 and 2025, palm oil demand in the USA experienced steady expansion, driven by increasing food processing requirements in manufacturing sectors and growing awareness of palm oil benefits for cost-effective cooking applications and industrial uses. The sector developed as food companies and oleochemical manufacturers, especially in major industrial corridors, recognized the need for proven vegetable oil solutions and reliable ingredient systems to achieve operational targets while meeting cost efficiency expectations and regulatory requirements. Palm oil suppliers and processing providers began emphasizing proper quality integration and supply optimization to maintain competitive advantages and commercial viability.
USA Palm Oil Demand Key Takeaways
Why is the USA Palm Oil Demand Growing?
Demand expansion is being supported by the accelerating emphasis on cost-effective ingredient consumption and food processing transformation nationwide, with the USA maintaining its position as a food manufacturing and industrial processing leadership region, and the corresponding need for effective vegetable oil systems for production management, quality control processing, and performance integration. Modern food manufacturers rely on palm oil technologies to ensure operational competitiveness, ingredient cost compliance, and optimal pathway achievement toward efficient production operations. Advanced operational requirements necessitate comprehensive vegetable oil solutions including specialized processing capabilities, quality control systems, and cost optimization infrastructure to address diverse application needs and performance specifications.
The growing emphasis on sustainable sourcing adoption and increasing federal and state-level environmental regulations, particularly certified palm oil programs across the USA, are driving demand for palm oil systems from proven suppliers with appropriate food expertise and quality management capabilities. Food manufacturers and oleochemical companies are increasingly investing in palm oil sourcing and integrated sustainable solutions to enhance operational profiles, access cost optimization trends, and demonstrate environmental leadership in competitive commercial environments. Environmental policies and sustainability compliance requirements are establishing standardized sourcing pathways that require certified palm oil systems and performance assurance, with USA operations often pioneering large-scale implementation of advanced palm oil technologies.
Opportunity Pathways - Demand for Palm Oil in the United States
The palm oil demand in the USA is positioned for robust expansion, growing from USD 2.73 billion in 2025 to USD 3.90 billion by 2035, reflecting a 3.50% CAGR. Rising adoption of versatile vegetable oil systems in food processing operations, oleochemical facilities, and biofuel applications is driving growth as manufacturers seek palm oil solutions that maximize cost efficiency and comply with stringent ingredient standards. Additionally, demand from refined palm oil applications and advanced processing implementations strengthens opportunities for both sophisticated sustainable platforms and integrated ingredient solutions.
Manufacturers focusing on sustainable sourcing implementations, cost-effective processing integration, and advanced specialty capabilities stand to gain from evolving operational standards and customer expectations for quality processing, reliability, and supply optimization.
Pathway A - Sustainable Sourcing Implementations and Food Processing Applications. Food manufacturers face increasing demands for reliable sustainable solutions in modern processing facilities. Certified palm oil enables enhanced supply transparency and comprehensive monitoring capabilities without compromising production performance. Solutions targeting large-scale manufacturers, food companies, and processing facilities can achieve strong adoption rates through sustainability optimization and reliability improvements. Estimated revenue opportunity: USD 185.00--265.00 million.
Pathway B - Cost-effective Processing and Advanced Refining Systems. The growth in food processing optimization, ingredient cost management, and production operational management creates robust demand for refined palm oil ensuring efficiency in manufacturing processes. Manufacturers offering cost-effective processing solutions for food applications can build relationships with equipment suppliers and ingredient integrators. Estimated revenue opportunity: USD 145.00--210.00 million.
Pathway C - Crude Palm Oil and Industrial Applications. Food manufacturers are increasingly adopting crude palm oil systems for consistent cost control. Collaborations with equipment manufacturers for integrated industrial solutions can unlock large-volume supply contracts and long-term partnerships in precision food applications. Estimated revenue opportunity: USD 125.00--185.00 million.
Pathway D - Oleochemical and Industrial Solutions. Environmental requirements and operational flexibility demands are driving preference for technical-grade palm oil platforms with superior processing capabilities. Suppliers offering comprehensive oleochemical solutions with exceptional operational characteristics can differentiate offerings and attract environmentally-focused organizations. Estimated revenue opportunity: USD 105.00--150.00 million.
Pathway E - Biofuel and Energy Applications. Critical energy applications require specialized palm oil configurations with optimized processing features and enhanced fuel properties. Manufacturers investing in biofuel development can secure advantages in serving performance-critical energy applications. Estimated revenue opportunity: USD 85.00--125.00 million.
Pathway F - Service and Support Networks. Comprehensive service networks offering deployment, training, and ongoing operational support create recurring revenue opportunities. Companies building strong technical support capabilities can capture ongoing relationships and enhance customer satisfaction across food processing facilities. Estimated revenue opportunity: USD 65.00--95.00 million.
Segmental Analysis
The demand is segmented by product, end use, and region. By product, sales are divided into crude palm oil, refined palm oil, palm kernel oil, and others categories. In terms of end use, demand is segmented into food processing, oleochemicals, biofuel, and others. Regionally, demand is divided into West, Northeast, Midwest, and South, with West representing a key growth and innovation hub for palm oil technologies.
By Product, Crude Palm Oil Segment Accounts for 46.80% Share FACTMR
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Fuelling the future with UCOs energy for the UK
From waste stream to sustainable energy. Suzanne McKenzie, Sales Director at Lifecycle Oils on how cooking oil is being transformed into biofuel
The UK’s food industry produces millions of litres of used cooking oil (UCO) every day via food service outlets and food manufacturers. Historically this UCO was treated as a waste product, presenting significant challenges in disposal and compliance. When not properly disposed of, fats, oils and grease (FOG) can lead to severe drain blockages, environmental pollution and hefty fines for businesses under the Water Industry Act 1991.
Yet today, our attitudes towards waste have come full circle, and UCO is now a valuable feedstock for advanced, second-generation biofuels. That is why we buy used cooking oil from the food businesses, turning it into a revenue stream for them.
From a sustainability perspective, there are huge benefits from using UCO to create biofuels. Unlike first-generation biofuels made from virgin crops like palm oil or rapeseed, UCO-derived fuels do not create competition for land that could be used for food production, nor do they drive agricultural expansion, deforestation, or biodiversity loss.
By repurposing a waste stream, we are sidestepping the significant carbon emissions associated with additional agricultural production and land-use change. We’re also not competing with the food chain, which can drive price pressures in the edible oils market.
There are also huge carbon savings when compared to conventional fossil fuels. Biodiesel from UCO produces around 80-90 per cent less carbon than fossil fuel diesel, and 40 per cent less carbon than first-generation biofuels made from virgin feedstocks.
A CLOSED-LOOP SERVICE IN ACTION
At Lifecycle Oils, we run a fully closed-loop service that manages the entire lifecycle of cooking oil, transforming it from a potential liability into a renewable energy resource. This is how the process works.
Sustainable Supply and Management: We begin by supplying the food industry with sustainably sourced fresh cooking oils. We then provide FOG management services to help businesses prevent costly blockages and remain compliant with environmental regulations.
Nationwide Collection: We collect the UCO from a wide network of food manufacturers, foodservice providers, oil aggregators and household waste sites. Our logistics are tailored for the industry, handling a range of containers including 60L barrels, 120L wheelie bins, 1,000L Intermediate Bulk Containers (IBCs) and even oil tankers.
Advanced Biofuel Processing: The collected UCO is transported to a new, state-of-the-art biofuels processing plant in Wednesbury, West Midlands, where it is turned into our own patented LF100 biofuel and other biofuel feedstocks.
Biofuel supply: We then sell the LF100 to UK manufacturers, as well as the entertainment and leisure industry, where it is used in generators to power a wide range of operations. We sell other biofuel feedstocks for further processing into various biofuels, such as Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO).
PRODUCING SUSTAINABLE BIOFUELS
To achieve the volumes needed, the Wednesbury facility opened in May 2025. This modern biofuel plant in the Midlands can produce millions of litres of biofuel and biofuel products every week. It’s where LF100 biofuel is produced, a second-generation biofuel designed to be as sustainable as possible, eliminating the chemical treatment stage traditionally required to turn UCO into biofuel. Instead, a multi-stage filtration and extended warm settling process is used, which takes approximately 14 days to complete. FMJUK
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November 14, 2025
EU countries deadlocked over changes to deforestation rules
As talks stall, the Danish presidency prepares a new compromise proposal
EU countries failed to reach a common position on proposed changes to the bloc’s landmark deforestation rules during a meeting of EU envoys on Wednesday, as divisions persisted over how far to go in reopening the text.
The EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) requires importers of cocoa, coffee, palm oil, cattle, timber, and rubber to prove their products are not linked to deforestation. The European Commission proposed last month to reopen the rules to ease implementation and avoid overburdening the IT system needed to share compliance data.
The Danish Council presidency circulated a compromise on Monday that would postpone the EUDR’s entry into force by one year – from December 2025 to December 2026 – and remove the six-month grace period initially proposed by the Commission. The Danish draft maintained the simplification measures proposed by the Commission but stopped short of introducing new ones.
However, there was no clear majority in favour of the Danish proposal, EU diplomatic sources told Euractiv. While most delegations supported delaying implementation by a year, one diplomat said, divisions centred on whether to include a “review clause” that would allow the legislation to be reopened again next year for further changes.
Following Austria’s move last week, Sweden – a major EU forestry country – circulated its own proposal, which also includes a one-year delay, a review clause, and the deletion of reference-number requirements for downstream operators.
The main elements of the Swedish proposal were backed by at least 10 countries, but still fell short of a majority. Diplomatic sources pointed that big member states like France and Spain didn’t support it, while Germany – likely due to internal disagreements in the government coalition – refrained from taking a clear position. The Commission also rejected the idea of introducing a review clause, a source added.
With member states deadlocked, the Danish presidency is expected to put forward a new compromise by the end of this week, or early next week. Time is running out, as an agreement with the European Parliament needs to be reached by the week of 15 December. Euractiv
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"Unprecedented deregulation?” EU member states push for third EUDR delay
The EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) faces its third major postponement, with a draft negotiation document from the Danish EU Council Presidency proposing to push the main compliance deadline for large and medium companies from December 30, 2025, to December 30, 2026. Small and micro enterprises would have until June 30, 2027, to comply under the proposal, which has garnered support from a majority of member states.
The latest delay marks a significant shift from the European Commission’s (EC) earlier stance. In October, EU Commissioner for Environment Jessika Roswall proposed postponing enforcement until the end of 2026, citing “serious IT capacity concerns” that could prevent the compliance system from operating at scale. However, that proposal suggested keeping the December 2025 deadline for larger firms while delaying penalties by six months.
The EC’s October proposal also recommended exempting downstream operators and traders from submitting due diligence statements — a move that drew criticism from environmental groups. Isabel Fernandez, senior consultant at Mighty Earth, warned at the time that this exemption would create a major blind spot in the EUDR framework, making it difficult for member state agencies to track down non-compliant products already circulating on the EU market. Food Ingredients First
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EU palm oil imports continue to decline
The downward trend in palm oil imports into the EU-27 continues, as is confirmed by the EU Commission's import figures.
The decline is due to the exclusion of biofuels derived from palm oil from being credited towards national quota obligations. At the same time, imports of waste oils and fats for use in transport fuel production are on the rise.
According to the EU Commission, the European Union imported nearly 958,000 tonnes of palm oil between 1 July and 2 November 2025 – a drop of roughly 20 per cent compared to the same period in the previous year.
Malaysia remained the leading supplier, providing 272,000 tonnes and accounting for 28% of total imports.
This represents a slight increase in the country's exports compared to the reference period. Indonesia ranked second with 261,000 tonnes, marking a sharp decline.
On the recipient side, the Netherlands remained the leading hub for European palm oil trading and a key location for biofuel production.
At 353,000 tonnes, the country absorbed roughly 12% more palm oil than in the same period the previous year.
Italy took second place among importing countries, receiving 303,000 tonnes, which represents a decrease of 8%.
Greece recorded the sharpest decline (-91%), followed by Sweden (-37 %) and Denmark (-30%). Germany imported 78,000 tonnes, down 13% year-on-year. In contrast, Belgium and Spain slightly increased their import volumes.
According to research by Agrarmarkt Informations-Gesellschaft (AMI), these countries, along with the Netherlands, are among the few EU countries showing an upward import trend.
From the perspective of the Union zur Förderung von Oel- und Proteinpflanzen e. V. (UFOP), the continued decline in imports reflects the fundamentally critical public debate on palm oil.
In several EU member states, this has already led to the exclusion of biofuels derived from palm oil from counting towards quota obligations.
Such exclusions must be implemented across the entire EU by 2030. The figures also clearly show that there has been an increase in demand for imports of waste oils and fats used in biodiesel and HVO production to compensate for the decline in palm oil imports.
Depending on waste category, these imports can be counted double towards national quota obligations.
According to the UFOP, this double counting has created incentives to commit fraud and also generated virtual GHG reduction quotas that are not eligible for credit towards climate mitigation targets in the transport sector. Biofuels News
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Airlangga: Palm Oil Still Key Pillar of Economy, Clean Energy Transition
Jakarta. Chief Economic Affairs Minister Airlangga Hartarto reaffirmed that palm oil remains a backbone of Indonesia’s economy and clean energy strategy, backed by strong exports and a steady domestic market.
As of September, the trade balance recorded a $4.34 billion surplus, driven by 28.55 million tons of palm oil exports worth $27 billion. “And the palm oil industry remains Indonesia’s most important economic pillar,” Airlangga said at the 21st Indonesian Palm Oil Conference and 2026 Price Outlook in Nusa Dua on Thursday. “Up to September 2025, our trade balance posted a $4.34 billion surplus, with palm oil as one of the main contributors.”
He said palm oil continues to support economic resilience, with GDP growing 5.04 percent in the third quarter, investment hitting Rp 1,434.3 trillion, and inflation at 2.86 percent. India and China remain the biggest export markets, while Japan and New Zealand are growing destinations. Jakarta Globe
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Malaysia risks RM7bil loss without palm oil replanting
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia risks losing RM7 billion in export revenue if it fails to replant oil palm trees across 520,000 hectares of ageing plantations.
Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani said the country's replanting rate in 2024 was about 2 per cent — well below the ideal target of 4 to 5 per cent annually.
"If we fail to replant trees aged over 25 years, covering 520,000 hectares, we could potentially lose almost RM7 billion in export revenue.
"That is why, as palm oil is the biggest contributor to our agriculture sector, we must continue replanting consistently," he said during the Oral Question and Answer Session in the Dewan Rakyat.
Malaysia, the world's second-largest palm oil producer after Indonesia, relies on the crop not only for billions in export revenue but also to supply products ranging from cooking oil and bread to cakes, cookies, cosmetics, soaps and biofuels.
Johari also said the ministry remained concerned and was working to address the issue, which stemmed partly from limited funds available to smallholders. NST
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EU countries deadlocked over changes to deforestation rules
As talks stall, the Danish presidency prepares a new compromise proposal
EU countries failed to reach a common position on proposed changes to the bloc’s landmark deforestation rules during a meeting of EU envoys on Wednesday, as divisions persisted over how far to go in reopening the text.
The EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) requires importers of cocoa, coffee, palm oil, cattle, timber, and rubber to prove their products are not linked to deforestation. The European Commission proposed last month to reopen the rules to ease implementation and avoid overburdening the IT system needed to share compliance data.
The Danish Council presidency circulated a compromise on Monday that would postpone the EUDR’s entry into force by one year – from December 2025 to December 2026 – and remove the six-month grace period initially proposed by the Commission. The Danish draft maintained the simplification measures proposed by the Commission but stopped short of introducing new ones.
However, there was no clear majority in favour of the Danish proposal, EU diplomatic sources told Euractiv. While most delegations supported delaying implementation by a year, one diplomat said, divisions centred on whether to include a “review clause” that would allow the legislation to be reopened again next year for further changes.
Following Austria’s move last week, Sweden – a major EU forestry country – circulated its own proposal, which also includes a one-year delay, a review clause, and the deletion of reference-number requirements for downstream operators.
The main elements of the Swedish proposal were backed by at least 10 countries, but still fell short of a majority. Diplomatic sources pointed that big member states like France and Spain didn’t support it, while Germany – likely due to internal disagreements in the government coalition – refrained from taking a clear position. The Commission also rejected the idea of introducing a review clause, a source added.
With member states deadlocked, the Danish presidency is expected to put forward a new compromise by the end of this week, or early next week. Time is running out, as an agreement with the European Parliament needs to be reached by the week of 15 December. Euractiv
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"Unprecedented deregulation?” EU member states push for third EUDR delay
The EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) faces its third major postponement, with a draft negotiation document from the Danish EU Council Presidency proposing to push the main compliance deadline for large and medium companies from December 30, 2025, to December 30, 2026. Small and micro enterprises would have until June 30, 2027, to comply under the proposal, which has garnered support from a majority of member states.
The latest delay marks a significant shift from the European Commission’s (EC) earlier stance. In October, EU Commissioner for Environment Jessika Roswall proposed postponing enforcement until the end of 2026, citing “serious IT capacity concerns” that could prevent the compliance system from operating at scale. However, that proposal suggested keeping the December 2025 deadline for larger firms while delaying penalties by six months.
The EC’s October proposal also recommended exempting downstream operators and traders from submitting due diligence statements — a move that drew criticism from environmental groups. Isabel Fernandez, senior consultant at Mighty Earth, warned at the time that this exemption would create a major blind spot in the EUDR framework, making it difficult for member state agencies to track down non-compliant products already circulating on the EU market. Food Ingredients First
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EU palm oil imports continue to decline
The downward trend in palm oil imports into the EU-27 continues, as is confirmed by the EU Commission's import figures.
The decline is due to the exclusion of biofuels derived from palm oil from being credited towards national quota obligations. At the same time, imports of waste oils and fats for use in transport fuel production are on the rise.
According to the EU Commission, the European Union imported nearly 958,000 tonnes of palm oil between 1 July and 2 November 2025 – a drop of roughly 20 per cent compared to the same period in the previous year.
Malaysia remained the leading supplier, providing 272,000 tonnes and accounting for 28% of total imports.
This represents a slight increase in the country's exports compared to the reference period. Indonesia ranked second with 261,000 tonnes, marking a sharp decline.
On the recipient side, the Netherlands remained the leading hub for European palm oil trading and a key location for biofuel production.
At 353,000 tonnes, the country absorbed roughly 12% more palm oil than in the same period the previous year.
Italy took second place among importing countries, receiving 303,000 tonnes, which represents a decrease of 8%.
Greece recorded the sharpest decline (-91%), followed by Sweden (-37 %) and Denmark (-30%). Germany imported 78,000 tonnes, down 13% year-on-year. In contrast, Belgium and Spain slightly increased their import volumes.
According to research by Agrarmarkt Informations-Gesellschaft (AMI), these countries, along with the Netherlands, are among the few EU countries showing an upward import trend.
From the perspective of the Union zur Förderung von Oel- und Proteinpflanzen e. V. (UFOP), the continued decline in imports reflects the fundamentally critical public debate on palm oil.
In several EU member states, this has already led to the exclusion of biofuels derived from palm oil from counting towards quota obligations.
Such exclusions must be implemented across the entire EU by 2030. The figures also clearly show that there has been an increase in demand for imports of waste oils and fats used in biodiesel and HVO production to compensate for the decline in palm oil imports.
Depending on waste category, these imports can be counted double towards national quota obligations.
According to the UFOP, this double counting has created incentives to commit fraud and also generated virtual GHG reduction quotas that are not eligible for credit towards climate mitigation targets in the transport sector. Biofuels News
---------
Airlangga: Palm Oil Still Key Pillar of Economy, Clean Energy Transition
Jakarta. Chief Economic Affairs Minister Airlangga Hartarto reaffirmed that palm oil remains a backbone of Indonesia’s economy and clean energy strategy, backed by strong exports and a steady domestic market.
As of September, the trade balance recorded a $4.34 billion surplus, driven by 28.55 million tons of palm oil exports worth $27 billion. “And the palm oil industry remains Indonesia’s most important economic pillar,” Airlangga said at the 21st Indonesian Palm Oil Conference and 2026 Price Outlook in Nusa Dua on Thursday. “Up to September 2025, our trade balance posted a $4.34 billion surplus, with palm oil as one of the main contributors.”
He said palm oil continues to support economic resilience, with GDP growing 5.04 percent in the third quarter, investment hitting Rp 1,434.3 trillion, and inflation at 2.86 percent. India and China remain the biggest export markets, while Japan and New Zealand are growing destinations. Jakarta Globe
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Malaysia risks RM7bil loss without palm oil replanting
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia risks losing RM7 billion in export revenue if it fails to replant oil palm trees across 520,000 hectares of ageing plantations.
Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani said the country's replanting rate in 2024 was about 2 per cent — well below the ideal target of 4 to 5 per cent annually.
"If we fail to replant trees aged over 25 years, covering 520,000 hectares, we could potentially lose almost RM7 billion in export revenue.
"That is why, as palm oil is the biggest contributor to our agriculture sector, we must continue replanting consistently," he said during the Oral Question and Answer Session in the Dewan Rakyat.
Malaysia, the world's second-largest palm oil producer after Indonesia, relies on the crop not only for billions in export revenue but also to supply products ranging from cooking oil and bread to cakes, cookies, cosmetics, soaps and biofuels.
Johari also said the ministry remained concerned and was working to address the issue, which stemmed partly from limited funds available to smallholders. NST
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November 13, 2025
Malaysia's Palm Oil Output Likely To Surpass 20 Million Tonnes For first Time In 2025
Malaysia's crude palm oil production is expected to surpass 20 million metric tonnes for the first time in 2025, supported by favourable weather, improved labour supply, and higher-yielding new plantations, trade and industry officials told Reuters.
The record output means the world's second-largest producer of the tropical oil is likely to end the year with higher-than-expected stocks, weighing on benchmark Malaysian futures FCPOc3.
This year's output is estimated to be 3.4% higher than last year's 19.34 million tonnes and to surpass the previous record of 19.96 million tonnes set in 2015, according to estimates from a dozen trade and industry officials.
Production in November is expected to ease from record October levels, with a further decline likely in December, but output should remain above last year's levels, said Anilkumar Bagani, research head of Mumbai-based vegetable oil broker Sunvin Group.
"Even with a drop in November and December, total production is still set to top 20 million tonnes," he said.
In October, production rose 11.02% month-on-month to 2.04 million tonnes, its highest since August 2015, according to the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB).
Favourable Weather, Younger Palms
The recent rise in production is largely due to favourable weather, which supported better fruit development and harvesting, as well as replanted younger palms that are yielding more fresh fruit bunches (FFB), MPOB's director general Ahmad Parveez Ghulam Kadir said.
A gradual increase in harvesters and fruit collectors, following the approval of special labour quotas, has also helped estates optimise operations and reduce crop losses, Kadir said.
Major planters have cited similar factors in their recent financial results, with SD Guthrie Berhad crediting its FFB increase to favourable weather and enhanced labour efficiency, while Genting Plantations reported growth due to conducive weather conditions and better crop recovery.
Malaysia's palm oil production typically declines in November and December. Over the past 25 years, November output has fallen an average of 6.8%, and December by 8.9%.
This year, November production could drop 9% from October to 1.86 million tonnes, followed by an 11% decline in December to 1.66 million tonnes, according to traders and industry officials.
Despite this seasonal dip, total output for 2025 is expected to exceed the milestone of 20 million tonnes, which industry players had not anticipated at the start of the year, said a Kuala Lumpur-based dealer with a trade house.
The MPOB has maintained its estimate for palm oil production at 19.5 million tonnes in 2025. ESM Magazine
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Palm oil producers call for clarity as EUDR delay debate deepens
Sustainable palm oil is part of the solution, but EUDR uncertainty threatens smallholders and markets, say producers
Palm oil producers are calling for clarity from the European Union on the implementation of its Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), as political uncertainty mounts after Austria’s call to ‘stop the clock’ on the regulation’s timeline.
A high-level delegation from the Council of Palm Oil Producing Countries (CPOPC), led by Secretary-General Izzana Salleh, recently concluded a mission to Brussels, warning that the absence of a clear direction risks undermining compliance efforts and market stability.
Across a series of meetings, the delegation underlined that while palm oil-producing countries fully support the regulation’s environmental goals, its rollout must be practical and fair, especially for the communities that depend on palm oil cultivation.
Progress is real
CPOPC highlighted that producer countries have substantially advanced their readiness, with companies aligning their systems to meet the regulation – something no other commodity can claim.
Malaysia’s e-MSPO platform, built around automated documentation and blockchain-style verification, was presented as a cost-effective model for transparent due diligence. Indonesia’s ISPO certification programme has also expanded significantly, with more than 6.2 million hectares certified as of early 2025.
But despite the progress, the delegation said operators still face unresolved technical and operational challenges.
These include data-format constraints such as the shapefile size cap that limits full geolocation datasets, and long export lead times that may result in consignments reaching EU entry points months after their initial order dates, complicating treatment under the new rules.
Industry advisor Pietro Paganini, who joined discussions, described the EUDR as accelerating “an irreversible transformation” of supply chains, driven by AI, drone monitoring, satellite imaging and digital traceability platforms. These tools, he noted, are now “strategic assets”, enabling a higher degree of verification across the sector.
Social impacts at the forefront
CPOPC repeatedly stressed that environmental objectives cannot be met by shifting the burden to those least equipped to comply. The delegation warned that complex requirements risk penalising smallholders and threatening livelihoods in producing regions, ultimately weakening the regulation’s effectiveness.
At the same time, producer countries argued that palm oil also has “good stories to tell” and should not be overshadowed by other commodities in the EUDR debate. They said the EU should recognise progress already achieved across the sector, emphasising that palm oil is part of the solution rather than the problem.
Producing countries have invested heavily in sustainability at the national level, but cautioned that the EU’s approach must respect the fact that there is not just one definition of sustainability.
Delegates also pointed to official data showing that deforestation rates in Malaysia and Indonesia have been declining, which demonstrates meaningful alignment with the EUDR’s core objectives.
Concerns were echoed by European stakeholders. In talks with CPOPC, COPA-COGECA – representing European farmers and cooperatives – cautioned that compliance systems must reflect real-world constraints faced by farmers globally.
The European Cocoa Association (ECA) also warned that long and complex supply chains may not be able to adapt within the proposed timelines.
Openness amid tension
In meetings with the European Commission’s environment directorate, CPOPC welcomed the Commission’s efforts to maintain constructive engagement, noting the importance of sustained cooperation through the Ad Hoc Joint Task Force to align regulatory requirements with realities on the ground.
The Commission’s trade section also signalled its commitment to ensuring continuity, pointing out that disrupted exports would affect European markets.
Austria breaks ranks
Producer countries said Austria’s request has unsettled the debate, arguing that changing the timeline now risks undoing progress made by companies that have already invested heavily in compliance systems.
They warned that reopening contentious elements could lead to delays and political fragmentation among member states.
In response to Euractiv’s query, a Commission spokesperson rejected Austria’s proposal to pause the timeline, saying: “We do not consider a separate ‘stop-the-clock’ initiative to be a politically viable option. Economic operators expect urgent clarity and predictability both on the content and the timing of the law. They need to prepare for both.”
Discussions in Brussels indicated that various forms of postponement have been considered to ease the transition for operators, ranging from six months to two years.
With 15 December set as the critical date, producing countries and market observers await final clarity on the regulation’s future, hoping that predictable, workable rules will emerge rather than extended uncertainty. Euractiv
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EU Trade Pact A Boon for Indonesian Palm Oil, But Deforestation Law Remains in the Way
Jakarta. Indonesian palm oil producers are confident that Jakarta’s upcoming trade deal with the European Union, or EU, can greatly bump up exports. However, Jakarta still has to overcome the bloc’s anti-deforestation law that restricts Indonesian palm oil’s entry.
Indonesia recently signed the substantive conclusion to its CEPA, short for Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, with the EU. The agreement will have to undergo some lawmaking processes before the tariff eliminations can come into effect as early as 2027. Eddy Martono, the chairman of the Indonesian Palm Oil Association (Gapki), admitted Thursday that the so-called EU Deforestation-Free Regulation (EUDR) remained a major obstacle in Jakarta’s trade despite the freshly announced pact. The EUDR will require any imports of palm oil to prove that their products do not come from deforested land using geographical coordinates. Indonesia has repeatedly slammed the EUDR, citing that the stringent geolocation requirements will only burden smallholders.
“This highway [CEPA] is huge, but it has a complex new toll system, namely the EUDR. We cannot simply admire the open road; we must be ready to navigate it. This means we must be strategic, compliant, and ready to prove our capabilities. We implement governance. The EUDR is not just a rulebook, it is a challenge to our system. How do we respond? We fight facts with facts and standards with better standards,” Eddy told a palm oil conference in Bali.
Indonesia, the world’s largest palm oil supplier, needs to strengthen and promote its existing ISPO standards, according to Eddy. The ISPO, also known as the Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil, is a mandatory certification for palm oil growers and producers which prove that their operations are environmentally and socially sound.
“We must strengthen ourselves, making ISPO certification not just a badge, but the global gold standard. This is more than just compliance; it's about sovereignty and pride," Eddy said.
As of September 2025, Indonesian palm oil production exceeded 43 million tons, up by 11 percent year-on-year. The country had exported at least 25 million tons of palm oil, resulting in $27.3 billion foreign exchange. Domestic consumption remained stable at 18.5 million tons, up from 17.6 million tons in the same period last year, Gapki reported.
The government reported that Indonesia-EU trade totaled $30.4 billion in 2024. Indonesia also registered a $4.5 billion surplus that year.
The EU has introduced a phasing-in period for the EUDR, postponing its implementation to end of 2025 for big and medium-sized enterprises. Micro and small businesses have time until June 30, 2026. Jakarta Globe
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Indonesia and Pakistan Strengthen Food Security Partnership Through Palm Oil Cooperation
Indonesia - Pakistan collaboration in palm oil trade reinforces affordability, market stability, and shared economic resilience
KARACHI, PAKISTAN, November 12, 2025 /EINPresswire.com/ -- The Indonesian Palm Oil Association (IPOA) has reaffirmed Indonesia’s commitment to supporting Pakistan’s food security through a steady and affordable supply of palm oil. With over 90 percent of Pakistan’s edible oil needs met through imports, and around 75 percent of that sourced from Indonesia - valued at more than US$2.5 billion annually - the partnership remains central to ensuring price stability and everyday access for millions of Pakistani households.
A Vital Link in Pakistan’s Food Economy
Palm oil is an essential part of Pakistan’s food landscape. It is used in ghee, margarine, confectionery, noodles, and bakery products, as well as in everyday cooking - from parathas to mithai. Its high heat tolerance, long shelf life, and affordability make it the preferred choice for both households and the food industry.
Local oilseed production currently meets less than 10 percent of national demand, leaving Pakistan exposed to global price shocks. Indonesia’s consistent palm oil exports help offset these risks by maintaining a stable supply chain. This reliability ensures that essential foods remain affordable for consumers and viable for producers across the country.
Partnership Beyond Trade
The Indonesia - Pakistan relationship in palm oil has grown beyond commodity exchange into a strategic collaboration that supports economic resilience. The Pakistan - Indonesia Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA), implemented in 2013, formalized tariff concessions that deepened bilateral cooperation. Under this framework, Indonesian palm oil exports have anchored Pakistan’s food manufacturing and contributed to broader trade reciprocity in textiles and agriculture. EIN Presswire
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Nigerian palm oil giants Okomu, Presco poised for profit surge on tight supply
Palm oil is poised for a bullish trend as Indonesia ramps up its biofuel ambitions, which could benefit the Nigerian industry.
This shift is expected to decrease the amount of palm oil available for export from the world’s leading producer, intensifying a global supply squeeze.
The cash crop used in many products, from chocolate to cosmetics, has experienced fluctuations in recent months due to concerns over growing stockpiles and erratic demand.
Currently, the price stands at $999.61 per ton, down 6% year-to-date.
Indonesia, already a global leader in biofuels, plans to boost its domestic biodiesel mandate from 40% to 50% by the second half of next year. This initiative, known as the B50 program, aims to reduce the country’s substantial fuel import costs while also cutting greenhouse gas emissions.
However, this policy, combined with stagnant output growth from the world’s largest producers, could result in higher global prices, alter vegetable oil supply flows, and potentially fuel food inflation as buyers may need to turn to more expensive alternatives.
Customers may have to seek supplies elsewhere because of Indonesia’s strict export controls intended to support its biodiesel production. Palm oil, derived from the fruit of the oil palm tree (Elaeis guineensis), accounts for approximately 38% of all vegetable oil produced globally, making it the most widely produced and consumed vegetable oil in the world. Naira Metrics
Malaysia's Palm Oil Output Likely To Surpass 20 Million Tonnes For first Time In 2025
Malaysia's crude palm oil production is expected to surpass 20 million metric tonnes for the first time in 2025, supported by favourable weather, improved labour supply, and higher-yielding new plantations, trade and industry officials told Reuters.
The record output means the world's second-largest producer of the tropical oil is likely to end the year with higher-than-expected stocks, weighing on benchmark Malaysian futures FCPOc3.
This year's output is estimated to be 3.4% higher than last year's 19.34 million tonnes and to surpass the previous record of 19.96 million tonnes set in 2015, according to estimates from a dozen trade and industry officials.
Production in November is expected to ease from record October levels, with a further decline likely in December, but output should remain above last year's levels, said Anilkumar Bagani, research head of Mumbai-based vegetable oil broker Sunvin Group.
"Even with a drop in November and December, total production is still set to top 20 million tonnes," he said.
In October, production rose 11.02% month-on-month to 2.04 million tonnes, its highest since August 2015, according to the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB).
Favourable Weather, Younger Palms
The recent rise in production is largely due to favourable weather, which supported better fruit development and harvesting, as well as replanted younger palms that are yielding more fresh fruit bunches (FFB), MPOB's director general Ahmad Parveez Ghulam Kadir said.
A gradual increase in harvesters and fruit collectors, following the approval of special labour quotas, has also helped estates optimise operations and reduce crop losses, Kadir said.
Major planters have cited similar factors in their recent financial results, with SD Guthrie Berhad crediting its FFB increase to favourable weather and enhanced labour efficiency, while Genting Plantations reported growth due to conducive weather conditions and better crop recovery.
Malaysia's palm oil production typically declines in November and December. Over the past 25 years, November output has fallen an average of 6.8%, and December by 8.9%.
This year, November production could drop 9% from October to 1.86 million tonnes, followed by an 11% decline in December to 1.66 million tonnes, according to traders and industry officials.
Despite this seasonal dip, total output for 2025 is expected to exceed the milestone of 20 million tonnes, which industry players had not anticipated at the start of the year, said a Kuala Lumpur-based dealer with a trade house.
The MPOB has maintained its estimate for palm oil production at 19.5 million tonnes in 2025. ESM Magazine
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Palm oil producers call for clarity as EUDR delay debate deepens
Sustainable palm oil is part of the solution, but EUDR uncertainty threatens smallholders and markets, say producers
Palm oil producers are calling for clarity from the European Union on the implementation of its Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), as political uncertainty mounts after Austria’s call to ‘stop the clock’ on the regulation’s timeline.
A high-level delegation from the Council of Palm Oil Producing Countries (CPOPC), led by Secretary-General Izzana Salleh, recently concluded a mission to Brussels, warning that the absence of a clear direction risks undermining compliance efforts and market stability.
Across a series of meetings, the delegation underlined that while palm oil-producing countries fully support the regulation’s environmental goals, its rollout must be practical and fair, especially for the communities that depend on palm oil cultivation.
Progress is real
CPOPC highlighted that producer countries have substantially advanced their readiness, with companies aligning their systems to meet the regulation – something no other commodity can claim.
Malaysia’s e-MSPO platform, built around automated documentation and blockchain-style verification, was presented as a cost-effective model for transparent due diligence. Indonesia’s ISPO certification programme has also expanded significantly, with more than 6.2 million hectares certified as of early 2025.
But despite the progress, the delegation said operators still face unresolved technical and operational challenges.
These include data-format constraints such as the shapefile size cap that limits full geolocation datasets, and long export lead times that may result in consignments reaching EU entry points months after their initial order dates, complicating treatment under the new rules.
Industry advisor Pietro Paganini, who joined discussions, described the EUDR as accelerating “an irreversible transformation” of supply chains, driven by AI, drone monitoring, satellite imaging and digital traceability platforms. These tools, he noted, are now “strategic assets”, enabling a higher degree of verification across the sector.
Social impacts at the forefront
CPOPC repeatedly stressed that environmental objectives cannot be met by shifting the burden to those least equipped to comply. The delegation warned that complex requirements risk penalising smallholders and threatening livelihoods in producing regions, ultimately weakening the regulation’s effectiveness.
At the same time, producer countries argued that palm oil also has “good stories to tell” and should not be overshadowed by other commodities in the EUDR debate. They said the EU should recognise progress already achieved across the sector, emphasising that palm oil is part of the solution rather than the problem.
Producing countries have invested heavily in sustainability at the national level, but cautioned that the EU’s approach must respect the fact that there is not just one definition of sustainability.
Delegates also pointed to official data showing that deforestation rates in Malaysia and Indonesia have been declining, which demonstrates meaningful alignment with the EUDR’s core objectives.
Concerns were echoed by European stakeholders. In talks with CPOPC, COPA-COGECA – representing European farmers and cooperatives – cautioned that compliance systems must reflect real-world constraints faced by farmers globally.
The European Cocoa Association (ECA) also warned that long and complex supply chains may not be able to adapt within the proposed timelines.
Openness amid tension
In meetings with the European Commission’s environment directorate, CPOPC welcomed the Commission’s efforts to maintain constructive engagement, noting the importance of sustained cooperation through the Ad Hoc Joint Task Force to align regulatory requirements with realities on the ground.
The Commission’s trade section also signalled its commitment to ensuring continuity, pointing out that disrupted exports would affect European markets.
Austria breaks ranks
Producer countries said Austria’s request has unsettled the debate, arguing that changing the timeline now risks undoing progress made by companies that have already invested heavily in compliance systems.
They warned that reopening contentious elements could lead to delays and political fragmentation among member states.
In response to Euractiv’s query, a Commission spokesperson rejected Austria’s proposal to pause the timeline, saying: “We do not consider a separate ‘stop-the-clock’ initiative to be a politically viable option. Economic operators expect urgent clarity and predictability both on the content and the timing of the law. They need to prepare for both.”
Discussions in Brussels indicated that various forms of postponement have been considered to ease the transition for operators, ranging from six months to two years.
With 15 December set as the critical date, producing countries and market observers await final clarity on the regulation’s future, hoping that predictable, workable rules will emerge rather than extended uncertainty. Euractiv
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EU Trade Pact A Boon for Indonesian Palm Oil, But Deforestation Law Remains in the Way
Jakarta. Indonesian palm oil producers are confident that Jakarta’s upcoming trade deal with the European Union, or EU, can greatly bump up exports. However, Jakarta still has to overcome the bloc’s anti-deforestation law that restricts Indonesian palm oil’s entry.
Indonesia recently signed the substantive conclusion to its CEPA, short for Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, with the EU. The agreement will have to undergo some lawmaking processes before the tariff eliminations can come into effect as early as 2027. Eddy Martono, the chairman of the Indonesian Palm Oil Association (Gapki), admitted Thursday that the so-called EU Deforestation-Free Regulation (EUDR) remained a major obstacle in Jakarta’s trade despite the freshly announced pact. The EUDR will require any imports of palm oil to prove that their products do not come from deforested land using geographical coordinates. Indonesia has repeatedly slammed the EUDR, citing that the stringent geolocation requirements will only burden smallholders.
“This highway [CEPA] is huge, but it has a complex new toll system, namely the EUDR. We cannot simply admire the open road; we must be ready to navigate it. This means we must be strategic, compliant, and ready to prove our capabilities. We implement governance. The EUDR is not just a rulebook, it is a challenge to our system. How do we respond? We fight facts with facts and standards with better standards,” Eddy told a palm oil conference in Bali.
Indonesia, the world’s largest palm oil supplier, needs to strengthen and promote its existing ISPO standards, according to Eddy. The ISPO, also known as the Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil, is a mandatory certification for palm oil growers and producers which prove that their operations are environmentally and socially sound.
“We must strengthen ourselves, making ISPO certification not just a badge, but the global gold standard. This is more than just compliance; it's about sovereignty and pride," Eddy said.
As of September 2025, Indonesian palm oil production exceeded 43 million tons, up by 11 percent year-on-year. The country had exported at least 25 million tons of palm oil, resulting in $27.3 billion foreign exchange. Domestic consumption remained stable at 18.5 million tons, up from 17.6 million tons in the same period last year, Gapki reported.
The government reported that Indonesia-EU trade totaled $30.4 billion in 2024. Indonesia also registered a $4.5 billion surplus that year.
The EU has introduced a phasing-in period for the EUDR, postponing its implementation to end of 2025 for big and medium-sized enterprises. Micro and small businesses have time until June 30, 2026. Jakarta Globe
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Indonesia and Pakistan Strengthen Food Security Partnership Through Palm Oil Cooperation
Indonesia - Pakistan collaboration in palm oil trade reinforces affordability, market stability, and shared economic resilience
KARACHI, PAKISTAN, November 12, 2025 /EINPresswire.com/ -- The Indonesian Palm Oil Association (IPOA) has reaffirmed Indonesia’s commitment to supporting Pakistan’s food security through a steady and affordable supply of palm oil. With over 90 percent of Pakistan’s edible oil needs met through imports, and around 75 percent of that sourced from Indonesia - valued at more than US$2.5 billion annually - the partnership remains central to ensuring price stability and everyday access for millions of Pakistani households.
A Vital Link in Pakistan’s Food Economy
Palm oil is an essential part of Pakistan’s food landscape. It is used in ghee, margarine, confectionery, noodles, and bakery products, as well as in everyday cooking - from parathas to mithai. Its high heat tolerance, long shelf life, and affordability make it the preferred choice for both households and the food industry.
Local oilseed production currently meets less than 10 percent of national demand, leaving Pakistan exposed to global price shocks. Indonesia’s consistent palm oil exports help offset these risks by maintaining a stable supply chain. This reliability ensures that essential foods remain affordable for consumers and viable for producers across the country.
Partnership Beyond Trade
The Indonesia - Pakistan relationship in palm oil has grown beyond commodity exchange into a strategic collaboration that supports economic resilience. The Pakistan - Indonesia Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA), implemented in 2013, formalized tariff concessions that deepened bilateral cooperation. Under this framework, Indonesian palm oil exports have anchored Pakistan’s food manufacturing and contributed to broader trade reciprocity in textiles and agriculture. EIN Presswire
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Nigerian palm oil giants Okomu, Presco poised for profit surge on tight supply
Palm oil is poised for a bullish trend as Indonesia ramps up its biofuel ambitions, which could benefit the Nigerian industry.
This shift is expected to decrease the amount of palm oil available for export from the world’s leading producer, intensifying a global supply squeeze.
The cash crop used in many products, from chocolate to cosmetics, has experienced fluctuations in recent months due to concerns over growing stockpiles and erratic demand.
Currently, the price stands at $999.61 per ton, down 6% year-to-date.
Indonesia, already a global leader in biofuels, plans to boost its domestic biodiesel mandate from 40% to 50% by the second half of next year. This initiative, known as the B50 program, aims to reduce the country’s substantial fuel import costs while also cutting greenhouse gas emissions.
However, this policy, combined with stagnant output growth from the world’s largest producers, could result in higher global prices, alter vegetable oil supply flows, and potentially fuel food inflation as buyers may need to turn to more expensive alternatives.
Customers may have to seek supplies elsewhere because of Indonesia’s strict export controls intended to support its biodiesel production. Palm oil, derived from the fruit of the oil palm tree (Elaeis guineensis), accounts for approximately 38% of all vegetable oil produced globally, making it the most widely produced and consumed vegetable oil in the world. Naira Metrics
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November 12, 2025
EU countries seek another year-long deforestation law delay
Summary
The draft document, which was seen by Reuters on Tuesday, now suggests deferring the law's application to December 30, 2026 for larger firms, and June 30, 2027 for smaller ones.
The European Commission last month proposed adjustments to ease compliance for smallholders and businesses, but stopped short of delaying the landmark policy. For many member states, "the Commission's proposal alone was not enough," the draft said.
CRITICS WARN OF ENVIRONMENTAL SETBACKS The ban on imports of cocoa, palm oil and other commodities linked to forest destruction is a key plank of the EU's green agenda. This faces pushback from some industries and countries that say the measures are costly and logistically challenging. Initially set to take effect from end-2024, the policy has already been delayed by a year but tensions persist, including complaints from trading partners such as Brazil and the U.S.
EU countries such as Poland and Austria have said European producers cannot comply with traceability rules. Antonie Fountain, head of the VOICE Network which advocates for cocoa sector reform, said the delay makes it difficult to do business in the bloc and was a blow to the EU's credibility. "During the week of COP in Brazil, it couldn't be more ironic," he added. Some food majors such as Nestle (NESN.S), opens new tab, Ferrero and Olam Agri back the law. They warned last month that delaying it endangers forests worldwide and is contrary to the EU's aim of simplifying business rules. Fern campaigner Nicole Polsterer said the delay would stall the significant progress towards traceability made to date in some countries. FINAL NEGOTIATIONS UNDERWAY Under the law, exporters of commodities such as beef, coffee, soy and rubber would need to provide due diligence statements proving their products did not contribute to forest destruction. EU nations and the European Parliament are racing to seal a deal on final changes by mid-December to avoid the law kicking in as currently planned. Denmark, which holds the EU's rotating presidency, authored the negotiating document. A spokesperson for the Danes said the aim was to secure swift backing from member states so they could negotiate a final deal in time. Reuters
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EU deforestation law: vote on fast-tracking simplification proposal
MEPs will decide whether to use the urgency procedure to simplify the EU deforestation law, which ensures products sold in the EU are not sourced from deforested land.
The new regulation, adopted by Parliament on 19 April 2023, aims to fight climate change and biodiversity loss by preventing deforestation related to the EU consumption of cocoa, coffee, palm-oil, soya, wood, rubber, charcoal, printed paper, and cattle. In force since 29 June 2023, the regulation’s provisions are set to apply from 30 December 2025 to large companies and from 30 June 2026 to micro and small enterprises, following a decision in 2024 to postpone these dates by one year.
Parliament will vote on Thursday on a proposal to fast-track a new proposal by the Commission which includes the possibility to reduce obligations for micro and small primary operators from low-risk countries as well as operators and traders that commercialise these products once they have been placed on the EU market.
If plenary decides to apply the urgent procedure, MEPs will vote on the content of the file during the 24-27 November plenary session in Strasbourg. Europarl
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Palm Oil Set to Soar as Indonesia's Biofuel Push Tightens Supply
Bloomberg.com
Palm oil is poised for a bullish run as Indonesia ramps up its biofuel ambitions, a move that is expected to slash supplies available for export ...
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Exports to CPTPP, RCEP countries rise despite uncertain global trade conditions
KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 12): Exports to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) member countries increased from January to September 2025 despite uncertain global trade conditions.
The Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (Miti) said exports to CPTPP member countries rose by 3.6% to RM362.51 billion for January to September 2025 compared to the same period last year.
“Exports of palm oil and palm-based products increased by 7.5% to RM7.35 billion, while exports of electrical and electronics (E&E) products rose by 19.3% to RM157.02 billion. The Edge
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GVL explains closure of RSPO Complaint
Butaw District, Sinoe County, November 11, 2025: In June 2025, the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) closed its complaint against Golden Veroleum Liberia (GVL), ending a stop-work order that applied to some areas in Sinoe County.Agriculture fair tickets
This decision recognized GVL’s compliance with the RSPO Complaints Panel’s guidance and its ongoing efforts to address concerns first raised in 2012.
This was not a reversal of the RSPO’s decision, as asserted in a recent Mongabay article (Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil must halt Liberian palm oil company’s abuses). It was a ruling based on facts and on due process, following a transparent, publicly accessible complaints procedure.
Throughout this process, GVL has followed the guidance of the RSPO Complaints Panel and an Independent Facilitator, ProForest, which carried out field investigations and led remediation efforts with communities and other stakeholders. The New Dawn
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EU countries seek another year-long deforestation law delay
Summary
- Propose end-Dec 2026 deferral for large firms
- EU race to seal final changes deal by mid-December
- Critics say delay a blow to EU credibility, harms progress
The draft document, which was seen by Reuters on Tuesday, now suggests deferring the law's application to December 30, 2026 for larger firms, and June 30, 2027 for smaller ones.
The European Commission last month proposed adjustments to ease compliance for smallholders and businesses, but stopped short of delaying the landmark policy. For many member states, "the Commission's proposal alone was not enough," the draft said.
CRITICS WARN OF ENVIRONMENTAL SETBACKS The ban on imports of cocoa, palm oil and other commodities linked to forest destruction is a key plank of the EU's green agenda. This faces pushback from some industries and countries that say the measures are costly and logistically challenging. Initially set to take effect from end-2024, the policy has already been delayed by a year but tensions persist, including complaints from trading partners such as Brazil and the U.S.
EU countries such as Poland and Austria have said European producers cannot comply with traceability rules. Antonie Fountain, head of the VOICE Network which advocates for cocoa sector reform, said the delay makes it difficult to do business in the bloc and was a blow to the EU's credibility. "During the week of COP in Brazil, it couldn't be more ironic," he added. Some food majors such as Nestle (NESN.S), opens new tab, Ferrero and Olam Agri back the law. They warned last month that delaying it endangers forests worldwide and is contrary to the EU's aim of simplifying business rules. Fern campaigner Nicole Polsterer said the delay would stall the significant progress towards traceability made to date in some countries. FINAL NEGOTIATIONS UNDERWAY Under the law, exporters of commodities such as beef, coffee, soy and rubber would need to provide due diligence statements proving their products did not contribute to forest destruction. EU nations and the European Parliament are racing to seal a deal on final changes by mid-December to avoid the law kicking in as currently planned. Denmark, which holds the EU's rotating presidency, authored the negotiating document. A spokesperson for the Danes said the aim was to secure swift backing from member states so they could negotiate a final deal in time. Reuters
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EU deforestation law: vote on fast-tracking simplification proposal
MEPs will decide whether to use the urgency procedure to simplify the EU deforestation law, which ensures products sold in the EU are not sourced from deforested land.
The new regulation, adopted by Parliament on 19 April 2023, aims to fight climate change and biodiversity loss by preventing deforestation related to the EU consumption of cocoa, coffee, palm-oil, soya, wood, rubber, charcoal, printed paper, and cattle. In force since 29 June 2023, the regulation’s provisions are set to apply from 30 December 2025 to large companies and from 30 June 2026 to micro and small enterprises, following a decision in 2024 to postpone these dates by one year.
Parliament will vote on Thursday on a proposal to fast-track a new proposal by the Commission which includes the possibility to reduce obligations for micro and small primary operators from low-risk countries as well as operators and traders that commercialise these products once they have been placed on the EU market.
If plenary decides to apply the urgent procedure, MEPs will vote on the content of the file during the 24-27 November plenary session in Strasbourg. Europarl
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Palm Oil Set to Soar as Indonesia's Biofuel Push Tightens Supply
Bloomberg.com
Palm oil is poised for a bullish run as Indonesia ramps up its biofuel ambitions, a move that is expected to slash supplies available for export ...
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Exports to CPTPP, RCEP countries rise despite uncertain global trade conditions
KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 12): Exports to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) member countries increased from January to September 2025 despite uncertain global trade conditions.
The Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (Miti) said exports to CPTPP member countries rose by 3.6% to RM362.51 billion for January to September 2025 compared to the same period last year.
“Exports of palm oil and palm-based products increased by 7.5% to RM7.35 billion, while exports of electrical and electronics (E&E) products rose by 19.3% to RM157.02 billion. The Edge
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GVL explains closure of RSPO Complaint
Butaw District, Sinoe County, November 11, 2025: In June 2025, the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) closed its complaint against Golden Veroleum Liberia (GVL), ending a stop-work order that applied to some areas in Sinoe County.Agriculture fair tickets
This decision recognized GVL’s compliance with the RSPO Complaints Panel’s guidance and its ongoing efforts to address concerns first raised in 2012.
This was not a reversal of the RSPO’s decision, as asserted in a recent Mongabay article (Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil must halt Liberian palm oil company’s abuses). It was a ruling based on facts and on due process, following a transparent, publicly accessible complaints procedure.
Throughout this process, GVL has followed the guidance of the RSPO Complaints Panel and an Independent Facilitator, ProForest, which carried out field investigations and led remediation efforts with communities and other stakeholders. The New Dawn
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November 11, 2025
Will COP30 pay the price for EU's climate rollback?EU climate ambitions watered down in deregulation drive ahead of COP30, say environmental campaigners.
BRUSSELS - The European Union (EU) is tainting its green credentials with a deregulation drive that has watered down progressive laws ahead of this week's U.N. COP30 climate summit, policy analysts warn.
Several EU laws that were designed to reduce Europe's role in driving deforestation and greenhouse gas emissions have been hit with delays and limitations.
Just days before the summit, the EU diluted its climate-change target in a flurry of last-minute negotiations, leaving the door open for a further relaxing of targets down the road.
Critics say the EU - which wants to cut red tape to boost business - couldn't have chosen a worse time given the bloc was expected to play a crucial role at COP after U.S. President Donald Trump dismissed climate change as a "con job", dumped the Paris accord and kept top officials away from the Brazil talks.
But the bloc now faces a credibility gap, according to green campaigners - just what COP didn't need days before world leaders descend on Brazil for the climate talks.
Here's what you need to know:
Which laws have been revised and why is it happening now?
Agreed in 2022, the EU's deforestation regulation aimed to prevent companies selling commodities - from coffee to palm oil - into the EU market if they had links to deforestation.
But the process has hit delays after companies and governments lobbied EU officials to ease the administrative burden, and will finally take effect in December with reduced reporting obligations for smallholders.
The EU's corporate sustainability law, another hotly contested part of the bloc's green agenda, would make firms clean their supply chains of human rights and environmental abuses, or face fines of up to 5% of global turnover. Context
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Indonesia Seeks New Markets in North Africa Over EU Deforestation Rules
As the world’s leading producer and exporter of palm oil, Indonesia also maintains a significant presence in the global coffee and cocoa markets. The country is now actively pursuing trade ambitions on the African continent.
North African countries could become new growth drivers for Indonesian agricultural exports. They would provide an alternative to the European Union (EU) market, according to Indonesian Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Arif Havas Oegroseno.
In an interview with Bloomberg last week, the official stated that Indonesian authorities are actively seeking new outlets for their commodities. Like other partners exporting to the bloc, the Southeast Asian nation will be impacted by the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), which is set to prohibit the import of products such as cocoa, coffee, soybeans, palm oil, timber, and beef originating from deforested land.
With the EUDR theoretically scheduled to take effect by the end of 2025, Oegroseno suggested that North Africa could absorb coffee and cocoa produced by smallholder farmers who lack the financial means to bear the costs of complying with the new EU rules. Egypt and Libya were cited as target countries.
“Complying with the EU means cost, and the cost of just being compliant is probably even more than the cost of trying to find new markets," Oegroseno added. "While they are incurring costs, the price is not guaranteed.”
While other details on the trade ambitions of the world’s largest palm oil exporter remain sparse, Indonesia produced 180,000 tonnes of cocoa in the 2023/2024 season, according to the International Cocoa Organization (ICCO). This volume makes it the top cocoa producer in the Asia & Oceania region and the 7th largest globally. Indonesia is also the world's 5th largest coffee producer and the 3rd leading supplier of robusta coffee, following Vietnam and Brazil.
Regarding market potential in North Africa, the region is home to four of the continent's six largest coffee consumers: Algeria, Egypt, Morocco, and Tunisia. The other two are Ethiopia (1st) and South Africa (5th), according to the International Coffee Organization (ICO).
For cocoa, TradeMap data shows that Egypt was the second-largest African importer of cocoa beans and preparations in 2024, with $210 million in imports, trailing only South Africa. Purchases were also significant in Morocco (approximately $165 million) and Tunisia ($43 million) during the same period. Ecofin
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Malaysia-US Trade Agreement: Food Sector Implications
11-Nov-2025 by Pearly Neo
Malaysia’s latest trade deal with the United States could have significant impacts for the food sector – but not so soon, and not all will benefit
https://www.foodnavigator-asia.com/Article/2025/11/11/malaysia-us-trade-agreement-food-sector-implications/
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RSPO green palm oil toxic as members turn on certification
IN the lofty parlance of “sustainability”, the fruit of the oil palm still finds itself cast as villain.
Yet when the very gatekeepers of the industry point out that some self-proclaimed champions of the cause are quietly declaring “No Palm Oil” while sitting at the same table as certified sustainable palm oil stakeholders, the contradictions become impossible to ignore.
As Malaysian Palm Oil Board chairman and SD Guthrie Bhd managing director Datuk Mohamad Helmy Othman Basha reminded delegates at the recent Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) RT2025, “There are brands that sit with us at the same table, claim to believe in sustainable palm oil, yet proudly sell products that say ‘No Palm Oil’.”
What message does that send?
n one hand, these companies endorse RSPO principles and parade sustainability credentials; on the other, they market moral panic in a jar.
The result is a mixed signal that turns sustainability from reform into farce – shifting the narrative from inclusion and improvement, to exclusion and fear.
Mohamad Helmy’s call for honesty, accountability and trust cut through the polite noise. The StarMY
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Malaysia To Expand CAPOC 2026, Enhance Palm Oil Access To Global Markets
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 10 (Bernama) -- The government will expand the financing scope of the Countering Anti-Palm Oil Campaigns (CAPOC) programme in 2026 to enhance market access and increase exports to priority international markets, said the Ministry of Plantation and Commodities (KPK).
Deputy Minister Datuk Chan Foong Hin said that part of the allocation will be utilised for initiatives to enhance market access and for Malaysia’s participation in major international trade exhibitions, including Gulfood, Food Ingredients Europe (FI Europe), and Food Ingredients India (FI India).
“These efforts will strengthen Malaysia’s presence on high-impact platforms and support improved export performance,” he said during the Budget 2026 committee-level winding-up debate for KPC in the Dewan Rakyat today.
Chan said CAPOC’s primary focus is to improve global perceptions of Malaysian palm oil more effectively so that negative narratives do not weaken the country’s market position.
“This approach is not just about presenting facts but is designed to enhance and widen market access through narrative influence at the buyer level, among stakeholders, and across credible international media platforms,” he added.
Chan explained that this focus will be intensified next year through a market-access-driven strategy involving direct engagement with buyers and decision-makers, as well as the implementation of trade networking visits that specifically combine market-awareness objectives with export empowerment.
He said that although the narrative on palm oil in 2025 was more focused on public education, next year’s strategy has been strengthened through collaboration with high-impact global media to influence perceptions via platforms popular with consumers, industry players and international policymakers. Bernama
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POSCO International Completes Palm Oil Value Chain in Indonesia
POSCO International is completing a palm oil refining plant in Indonesia in partnership with GS Caltex. The company is also considering additional acquisitions of local palm plantations, planning to aggressively expand its food business by establishing an integrated value chain overseas from refining to bio-raw material extraction.
POSCO International will complete a palm oil refining facility with an annual capacity of 500,000 tons in Kalimantan, Indonesia, in mid-November. The plant was built on a 300,000 square meter site with a total investment of 260 billion won in partnership with GS Caltex. The bio-raw materials and edible oils produced will be exported to Indonesia’s domestic market as well as neighboring Southeast Asian countries. Indonesia accounts for more than 50% of the global palm oil market, making it a crucial region for global food security.
Palm oil is vegetable oil extracted from oil palm fruit. Through the refining process, vegetable oil extracted from palm fruit seeds is used for cooking oil or eco-friendly raw materials, while the by-product powder made from crushing the pulp and shells remaining after palm oil extraction is used as raw materials for cosmetics, soap, and detergents.
With the full operation of the palm oil refining facility, POSCO International will complete the establishment of an integrated palm value chain from plantation to refining to bio-raw materials. The company first began developing palm plantations in Papua, Indonesia in 2011, entered commercial production in 2016, and currently operates three oil mills, producing 210,000 tons of palm oil annually. POSCO International recorded $164 million in sales through its Indonesian palm oil business last year.
In addition, the company is considering additional acquisitions of local palm plantations to coincide with the operation of the refining plant. To operate the new 500,000 ton annual capacity facility at 100%, it needs to secure an additional palm oil production capacity of 300,000 tons. POSCO International plans to expand palm oil production from 200,000 tons last year to 340,000 tons by 2027. The company stated, “Nothing has been specifically confirmed regarding additional palm plantation acquisitions,” while adding, “We are reviewing the business from various angles as palm oil demand is expected to increase in the future.”
POSCO International’s expansion into Indonesia’s palm oil business is due to the significant improvement in palm oil profitability caused by global supply shortages. Since 2018, Indonesia has mandated the use of biodiesel mixed with palm oil in all diesel vehicles and machinery, with the mixing ratio starting at 20% and increasing to 40% this year. This has led to increased domestic consumption in Indonesia and reduced export volumes, creating a global supply shortage situation. Additionally, repeated droughts and El Niño phenomena significantly reduced palm fruit harvests, causing global palm oil prices to surge from around $400 per ton in 2020 to $976 as of Nov. 6, more than doubling. An industry official predicted, “Next year, Indonesia’s mandatory biodiesel mixing ratio will expand to 50%, and palm oil prices will continue to show strength due to the effects of palm tree aging and restrictions on new plantation entry.”
In the medium to long term, POSCO International plans to seek balanced development of its three major growth sectors consisting of food, energy, and materials while expanding its Indonesian palm oil business. In August, the company agreed to expand grain trading of corn, wheat, and soybeans to an annual 4 million tons with U.S. grain company Bartlett & Company, and is working to triple natural gas production with Australia’s Senex Energy in the energy sector. Additionally, the company has signed agreements with U.S.-based RiElement to strengthen rare earth supply chains, emerging as a key company in the global supply chain restructuring process.
Through strengthening its three major supply chain businesses, POSCO International is expected to record sales of 32.698 trillion won and operating profit of 1.141 trillion won this year. In particular, the financial investment industry forecasts that operating profit will continue to grow to 1.288 trillion won next year and 1.364 trillion won in 2027.
출처 : Businesskorea(https://www.businesskorea.co.kr)
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Will COP30 pay the price for EU's climate rollback?EU climate ambitions watered down in deregulation drive ahead of COP30, say environmental campaigners.
- Industry dilutes EU's green agenda
- Campaigners fear knock-on effect at COP
- Big players have weakened hands at Brazil summit
BRUSSELS - The European Union (EU) is tainting its green credentials with a deregulation drive that has watered down progressive laws ahead of this week's U.N. COP30 climate summit, policy analysts warn.
Several EU laws that were designed to reduce Europe's role in driving deforestation and greenhouse gas emissions have been hit with delays and limitations.
Just days before the summit, the EU diluted its climate-change target in a flurry of last-minute negotiations, leaving the door open for a further relaxing of targets down the road.
Critics say the EU - which wants to cut red tape to boost business - couldn't have chosen a worse time given the bloc was expected to play a crucial role at COP after U.S. President Donald Trump dismissed climate change as a "con job", dumped the Paris accord and kept top officials away from the Brazil talks.
But the bloc now faces a credibility gap, according to green campaigners - just what COP didn't need days before world leaders descend on Brazil for the climate talks.
Here's what you need to know:
Which laws have been revised and why is it happening now?
Agreed in 2022, the EU's deforestation regulation aimed to prevent companies selling commodities - from coffee to palm oil - into the EU market if they had links to deforestation.
But the process has hit delays after companies and governments lobbied EU officials to ease the administrative burden, and will finally take effect in December with reduced reporting obligations for smallholders.
The EU's corporate sustainability law, another hotly contested part of the bloc's green agenda, would make firms clean their supply chains of human rights and environmental abuses, or face fines of up to 5% of global turnover. Context
--------
Indonesia Seeks New Markets in North Africa Over EU Deforestation Rules
As the world’s leading producer and exporter of palm oil, Indonesia also maintains a significant presence in the global coffee and cocoa markets. The country is now actively pursuing trade ambitions on the African continent.
North African countries could become new growth drivers for Indonesian agricultural exports. They would provide an alternative to the European Union (EU) market, according to Indonesian Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Arif Havas Oegroseno.
In an interview with Bloomberg last week, the official stated that Indonesian authorities are actively seeking new outlets for their commodities. Like other partners exporting to the bloc, the Southeast Asian nation will be impacted by the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), which is set to prohibit the import of products such as cocoa, coffee, soybeans, palm oil, timber, and beef originating from deforested land.
With the EUDR theoretically scheduled to take effect by the end of 2025, Oegroseno suggested that North Africa could absorb coffee and cocoa produced by smallholder farmers who lack the financial means to bear the costs of complying with the new EU rules. Egypt and Libya were cited as target countries.
“Complying with the EU means cost, and the cost of just being compliant is probably even more than the cost of trying to find new markets," Oegroseno added. "While they are incurring costs, the price is not guaranteed.”
While other details on the trade ambitions of the world’s largest palm oil exporter remain sparse, Indonesia produced 180,000 tonnes of cocoa in the 2023/2024 season, according to the International Cocoa Organization (ICCO). This volume makes it the top cocoa producer in the Asia & Oceania region and the 7th largest globally. Indonesia is also the world's 5th largest coffee producer and the 3rd leading supplier of robusta coffee, following Vietnam and Brazil.
Regarding market potential in North Africa, the region is home to four of the continent's six largest coffee consumers: Algeria, Egypt, Morocco, and Tunisia. The other two are Ethiopia (1st) and South Africa (5th), according to the International Coffee Organization (ICO).
For cocoa, TradeMap data shows that Egypt was the second-largest African importer of cocoa beans and preparations in 2024, with $210 million in imports, trailing only South Africa. Purchases were also significant in Morocco (approximately $165 million) and Tunisia ($43 million) during the same period. Ecofin
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Malaysia-US Trade Agreement: Food Sector Implications
11-Nov-2025 by Pearly Neo
Malaysia’s latest trade deal with the United States could have significant impacts for the food sector – but not so soon, and not all will benefit
https://www.foodnavigator-asia.com/Article/2025/11/11/malaysia-us-trade-agreement-food-sector-implications/
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RSPO green palm oil toxic as members turn on certification
IN the lofty parlance of “sustainability”, the fruit of the oil palm still finds itself cast as villain.
Yet when the very gatekeepers of the industry point out that some self-proclaimed champions of the cause are quietly declaring “No Palm Oil” while sitting at the same table as certified sustainable palm oil stakeholders, the contradictions become impossible to ignore.
As Malaysian Palm Oil Board chairman and SD Guthrie Bhd managing director Datuk Mohamad Helmy Othman Basha reminded delegates at the recent Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) RT2025, “There are brands that sit with us at the same table, claim to believe in sustainable palm oil, yet proudly sell products that say ‘No Palm Oil’.”
What message does that send?
n one hand, these companies endorse RSPO principles and parade sustainability credentials; on the other, they market moral panic in a jar.
The result is a mixed signal that turns sustainability from reform into farce – shifting the narrative from inclusion and improvement, to exclusion and fear.
Mohamad Helmy’s call for honesty, accountability and trust cut through the polite noise. The StarMY
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Malaysia To Expand CAPOC 2026, Enhance Palm Oil Access To Global Markets
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 10 (Bernama) -- The government will expand the financing scope of the Countering Anti-Palm Oil Campaigns (CAPOC) programme in 2026 to enhance market access and increase exports to priority international markets, said the Ministry of Plantation and Commodities (KPK).
Deputy Minister Datuk Chan Foong Hin said that part of the allocation will be utilised for initiatives to enhance market access and for Malaysia’s participation in major international trade exhibitions, including Gulfood, Food Ingredients Europe (FI Europe), and Food Ingredients India (FI India).
“These efforts will strengthen Malaysia’s presence on high-impact platforms and support improved export performance,” he said during the Budget 2026 committee-level winding-up debate for KPC in the Dewan Rakyat today.
Chan said CAPOC’s primary focus is to improve global perceptions of Malaysian palm oil more effectively so that negative narratives do not weaken the country’s market position.
“This approach is not just about presenting facts but is designed to enhance and widen market access through narrative influence at the buyer level, among stakeholders, and across credible international media platforms,” he added.
Chan explained that this focus will be intensified next year through a market-access-driven strategy involving direct engagement with buyers and decision-makers, as well as the implementation of trade networking visits that specifically combine market-awareness objectives with export empowerment.
He said that although the narrative on palm oil in 2025 was more focused on public education, next year’s strategy has been strengthened through collaboration with high-impact global media to influence perceptions via platforms popular with consumers, industry players and international policymakers. Bernama
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POSCO International Completes Palm Oil Value Chain in Indonesia
POSCO International is completing a palm oil refining plant in Indonesia in partnership with GS Caltex. The company is also considering additional acquisitions of local palm plantations, planning to aggressively expand its food business by establishing an integrated value chain overseas from refining to bio-raw material extraction.
POSCO International will complete a palm oil refining facility with an annual capacity of 500,000 tons in Kalimantan, Indonesia, in mid-November. The plant was built on a 300,000 square meter site with a total investment of 260 billion won in partnership with GS Caltex. The bio-raw materials and edible oils produced will be exported to Indonesia’s domestic market as well as neighboring Southeast Asian countries. Indonesia accounts for more than 50% of the global palm oil market, making it a crucial region for global food security.
Palm oil is vegetable oil extracted from oil palm fruit. Through the refining process, vegetable oil extracted from palm fruit seeds is used for cooking oil or eco-friendly raw materials, while the by-product powder made from crushing the pulp and shells remaining after palm oil extraction is used as raw materials for cosmetics, soap, and detergents.
With the full operation of the palm oil refining facility, POSCO International will complete the establishment of an integrated palm value chain from plantation to refining to bio-raw materials. The company first began developing palm plantations in Papua, Indonesia in 2011, entered commercial production in 2016, and currently operates three oil mills, producing 210,000 tons of palm oil annually. POSCO International recorded $164 million in sales through its Indonesian palm oil business last year.
In addition, the company is considering additional acquisitions of local palm plantations to coincide with the operation of the refining plant. To operate the new 500,000 ton annual capacity facility at 100%, it needs to secure an additional palm oil production capacity of 300,000 tons. POSCO International plans to expand palm oil production from 200,000 tons last year to 340,000 tons by 2027. The company stated, “Nothing has been specifically confirmed regarding additional palm plantation acquisitions,” while adding, “We are reviewing the business from various angles as palm oil demand is expected to increase in the future.”
POSCO International’s expansion into Indonesia’s palm oil business is due to the significant improvement in palm oil profitability caused by global supply shortages. Since 2018, Indonesia has mandated the use of biodiesel mixed with palm oil in all diesel vehicles and machinery, with the mixing ratio starting at 20% and increasing to 40% this year. This has led to increased domestic consumption in Indonesia and reduced export volumes, creating a global supply shortage situation. Additionally, repeated droughts and El Niño phenomena significantly reduced palm fruit harvests, causing global palm oil prices to surge from around $400 per ton in 2020 to $976 as of Nov. 6, more than doubling. An industry official predicted, “Next year, Indonesia’s mandatory biodiesel mixing ratio will expand to 50%, and palm oil prices will continue to show strength due to the effects of palm tree aging and restrictions on new plantation entry.”
In the medium to long term, POSCO International plans to seek balanced development of its three major growth sectors consisting of food, energy, and materials while expanding its Indonesian palm oil business. In August, the company agreed to expand grain trading of corn, wheat, and soybeans to an annual 4 million tons with U.S. grain company Bartlett & Company, and is working to triple natural gas production with Australia’s Senex Energy in the energy sector. Additionally, the company has signed agreements with U.S.-based RiElement to strengthen rare earth supply chains, emerging as a key company in the global supply chain restructuring process.
Through strengthening its three major supply chain businesses, POSCO International is expected to record sales of 32.698 trillion won and operating profit of 1.141 trillion won this year. In particular, the financial investment industry forecasts that operating profit will continue to grow to 1.288 trillion won next year and 1.364 trillion won in 2027.
출처 : Businesskorea(https://www.businesskorea.co.kr)
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November 10, 2025
Compliance drives sustainable growth in Malaysia's palm oil sector, says CIMB Securities
KUALA LUMPUR: Compliance with sustainability standards such as Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO), and International Sustainability & Carbon Certification (ISCC) has become the cornerstone of Malaysia's palm oil industry, strengthening global confidence in its commitment to ethical and environmentally responsible production.
CIMB Securities Sdn Bhd said that certified producers are increasingly adopting satellite monitoring, traceability systems, and smallholder inclusion programmes to ensure deforestation-free and transparent supply chains - aligning with global sustainability expectations while maintaining export competitiveness.
It noted that despite structural challenges such as limited land availability, ageing palms, and a slower replanting rate, Malaysia's palm oil sector remains resilient and strategically positioned for long-term growth.
Global demand continues to expand steadily, by around 3 per cent annually, driven by robust consumption in the food, oleochemical, and biofuel industries, according to CIMB Securities.
As the world's second-largest producer and exporter of palm oil, Malaysia contributes about 24 per cent of global output and 35 per cent of exports, supporting over 438,000 direct jobs and accounting for about 4.2 per cent of the country's gross domestic product (GDP). This foundation underscores the sector's vital role in national economic stability and rural livelihoods.
From 1975 to 2019, Malaysia's oil palm planted area expanded nearly tenfold, from 0.6 million hectares to 5.9 million hectares, largely replacing rubber. During the same period, palm oil production grew from 1.3 million tonnes to 19.9 million tonnes, peaking in 2015 and 2017. While early expansion was concentrated in Peninsular Malaysia, which still accounts for about 45 per cent of the total area, growth in Sabah and Sarawak accelerated from the 1990s onwards. NST
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Malaysia’s palm oil development: Lessons from a global success story
Palm oil is one of the most versatile and valuable agricultural commodities in the world today. Found in products ranging from food to cosmetics and biofuels, it has become a cornerstone of economic growth for several developing nations. Among these, Malaysia stands out as a remarkable success story. What makes Malaysia’s journey especially fascinating is that the oil palm tree — Elaeis guineensis — did not originate there. It came from West Africa, then, when the countries were not yet sovereign nations, from the same region where Nigeria lies. Yet today, Malaysia is one of the world’s largest producers and exporters of palm oil, while Nigeria, once a global leader, lags far behind. Understanding Malaysia’s path from importing palm seeds to building a multi-billion-dollar industry offers powerful lessons for Africa’s agricultural transformation.
The oil palm tree is native to the tropical rainforests of West Africa. It was an integral part of local economies and diets long before colonial times. In the 1870s, British colonial administrators introduced oil palm seeds from West Africa, specifically from Nigeria and the Congo Basin, to the Malay Peninsula. I must emphasise here that it was the British colonial authorities who introduced the oil palm seedlings into British Malaya, not Malaysia, as the country did not yet exist at that time. Ironically, the Nigerians often remind me of the narrative that Malaysia took or appropriated their commodity — a view with which I respectfully disagree.
Initially, the palm was cultivated as an ornamental plant in botanical gardens, not as a commercial crop. However, by the early 20th century, the potential of palm oil as an industrial and edible oil source became apparent. The first commercial planting took place in 1917 at the Tennamaram Estate in Selangor. The colonial authorities and early investors saw palm oil as a diversification strategy to reduce dependence on rubber. This strategic move marked the beginning of Malaysia’s journey to becoming a global palm oil powerhouse.
After independence in 1957, the Malaysian government faced a critical challenge, which was how to diversify its economy beyond tin and rubber exports. Palm oil presented an ideal opportunity. Through deliberate planning and investment, Malaysia transformed what began as a colonial experiment into a national development strategy. Key milestones included: More at PunchNG
Compliance drives sustainable growth in Malaysia's palm oil sector, says CIMB Securities
KUALA LUMPUR: Compliance with sustainability standards such as Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO), and International Sustainability & Carbon Certification (ISCC) has become the cornerstone of Malaysia's palm oil industry, strengthening global confidence in its commitment to ethical and environmentally responsible production.
CIMB Securities Sdn Bhd said that certified producers are increasingly adopting satellite monitoring, traceability systems, and smallholder inclusion programmes to ensure deforestation-free and transparent supply chains - aligning with global sustainability expectations while maintaining export competitiveness.
It noted that despite structural challenges such as limited land availability, ageing palms, and a slower replanting rate, Malaysia's palm oil sector remains resilient and strategically positioned for long-term growth.
Global demand continues to expand steadily, by around 3 per cent annually, driven by robust consumption in the food, oleochemical, and biofuel industries, according to CIMB Securities.
As the world's second-largest producer and exporter of palm oil, Malaysia contributes about 24 per cent of global output and 35 per cent of exports, supporting over 438,000 direct jobs and accounting for about 4.2 per cent of the country's gross domestic product (GDP). This foundation underscores the sector's vital role in national economic stability and rural livelihoods.
From 1975 to 2019, Malaysia's oil palm planted area expanded nearly tenfold, from 0.6 million hectares to 5.9 million hectares, largely replacing rubber. During the same period, palm oil production grew from 1.3 million tonnes to 19.9 million tonnes, peaking in 2015 and 2017. While early expansion was concentrated in Peninsular Malaysia, which still accounts for about 45 per cent of the total area, growth in Sabah and Sarawak accelerated from the 1990s onwards. NST
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Malaysia’s palm oil development: Lessons from a global success story
Palm oil is one of the most versatile and valuable agricultural commodities in the world today. Found in products ranging from food to cosmetics and biofuels, it has become a cornerstone of economic growth for several developing nations. Among these, Malaysia stands out as a remarkable success story. What makes Malaysia’s journey especially fascinating is that the oil palm tree — Elaeis guineensis — did not originate there. It came from West Africa, then, when the countries were not yet sovereign nations, from the same region where Nigeria lies. Yet today, Malaysia is one of the world’s largest producers and exporters of palm oil, while Nigeria, once a global leader, lags far behind. Understanding Malaysia’s path from importing palm seeds to building a multi-billion-dollar industry offers powerful lessons for Africa’s agricultural transformation.
The oil palm tree is native to the tropical rainforests of West Africa. It was an integral part of local economies and diets long before colonial times. In the 1870s, British colonial administrators introduced oil palm seeds from West Africa, specifically from Nigeria and the Congo Basin, to the Malay Peninsula. I must emphasise here that it was the British colonial authorities who introduced the oil palm seedlings into British Malaya, not Malaysia, as the country did not yet exist at that time. Ironically, the Nigerians often remind me of the narrative that Malaysia took or appropriated their commodity — a view with which I respectfully disagree.
Initially, the palm was cultivated as an ornamental plant in botanical gardens, not as a commercial crop. However, by the early 20th century, the potential of palm oil as an industrial and edible oil source became apparent. The first commercial planting took place in 1917 at the Tennamaram Estate in Selangor. The colonial authorities and early investors saw palm oil as a diversification strategy to reduce dependence on rubber. This strategic move marked the beginning of Malaysia’s journey to becoming a global palm oil powerhouse.
After independence in 1957, the Malaysian government faced a critical challenge, which was how to diversify its economy beyond tin and rubber exports. Palm oil presented an ideal opportunity. Through deliberate planning and investment, Malaysia transformed what began as a colonial experiment into a national development strategy. Key milestones included: More at PunchNG
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November 08, 2025
ESG Transparency Boosts Prospects For Malaysian Planters
CIMB Investment Bank Bhd (CIMB Securities) has maintained its OVERWEIGHT call on the plantation sector, citing that greater environmental, social and governance (ESG) transparency among Malaysian planters could pave the way for a sector re-rating. The research house said companies under its coverage recorded the strongest gains in the environmental pillar of the 2025 SPOTT assessment, with moderate improvements in the social and governance categories.
In its report, CIMB Securities highlighted SD Guthrie, IOI Corporation and Hap Seng Plantations as key beneficiaries of this rising ESG transparency, maintaining Buy calls on all three. SD Guthrie led globally with a SPOTT score of 97.5%, up 2.7 percentage points from the previous year, while IOI Corporation and Hap Seng Plantations recorded scores of 85.1% and 91.2%, ranking 20th and 15th, respectively, among the 100 palm oil companies assessed.
CIMB Securities noted that the SPOTT assessment, published by the Zoological Society of London (ZSL), is widely tracked by investors and evaluates up to 192 ESG indicators across 10 categories. The report’s findings show that while transparency among Malaysian planters has improved, global progress remains uneven, with only 51% of firms disclosing deforestation monitoring and just 18% achieving full supply chain traceability.
Despite these gaps, Malaysian companies stood out in the 2025 SPOTT results, benefiting from strengthened environmental reporting, deforestation monitoring and emissions disclosure ahead of the upcoming European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) and COP30 in Brazil. The research firm added that the social pillar also improved due to greater disclosure on labour rights, smallholder inclusion and community engagement, while governance scores remained largely stable.
CIMB Securities said stronger ESG transparency could attract renewed foreign investor interest in Malaysian plantations, which have long been under-owned due to sustainability concerns. The improvement in rankings, particularly with SD Guthrie and United Plantations taking the top two global spots, reflects growing efforts among local planters to align with international sustainability standards.
In terms of valuation, CIMB Securities set target prices at RM6.01 for SD Guthrie, RM4.11 for IOI Corporation, and RM2.23 for Hap Seng Plantations. The research house added that these firms’ consistent improvements in ESG metrics, coupled with healthy dividend yields ranging between 2.5% and 4.6%, could support long-term sector re-rating prospects as global investors increasingly favour transparent and sustainable palm oil producers. Business TodayMY
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Indonesia Pledges 1.4 Million Hectares of Customary Forests for Indigenous Peoples
Jakarta. Indonesia is allocating 1.4 million hectares of customary forests to Indigenous communities, Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni said at the Climate Summit in Belém, Brazil.
“This is part of the President’s concern for the environment and for communities that have long been marginalized,” Antoni said in a statement on Friday.
Antoni made the remarks while accompanying Presidential Special Envoy for Climate Change and Energy Hashim Djojohadikusumo. During the event, Hashim, speaking on behalf of President Prabowo, officially announced Indonesia’s commitment to allocate the areas.
“Earlier this year President Prabowo publicly announced our bold commitment to recognize and allocate 1.4 million hectares of customary forests for Indigenous and local communities within four years,” Hashim said.
Hashim was accompanied in Belém by Antoni and Environment Minister Hanif Faisol as part of Prabowo’s official COP30 delegation.
Antoni added that Indonesia has already set up a special task force to accelerate the recognition of customary forests. The task force, launched in March 2025 following Prabowo’s directives, has set a target to recognize 1.4 million hectares of new customary forest rights during 2025–2029.
“Recognizing customary forests is not only about respecting Indigenous rights; it has also been proven to reduce deforestation by 30–50 percent, based on The State of Indonesia's Forest (SOIFO) 2024 data,” he said.
The pledge comes as Indigenous organizations warn that industrial expansion continues to displace Indigenous peoples across Indonesia.
A new joint report by the Indigenous Peoples Alliance of the Archipelago (AMAN), the Global Alliance of Territorial Communities (GATC), regional Indigenous federations, and Earth Insight found more than 11.7 million hectares of customary lands have been taken over in the past decade. The coalition recorded nearly 700 land conflicts linked to mining, logging, oil and gas, geothermal projects, and other extractive industries.
According to the report, Indonesia’s customary territories span around 33.6 million hectares, covering some of the country’s most biodiverse and carbon-rich landscapes, yet only a fraction has been formally recognized.
Citing data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), the groups say less than 1 percent of more than 25 million hectares of Indigenous territories have legal recognition, while concessions for palm oil, forestry, and mining collectively cover tens of millions of hectares. Jakarta Globe
ESG Transparency Boosts Prospects For Malaysian Planters
CIMB Investment Bank Bhd (CIMB Securities) has maintained its OVERWEIGHT call on the plantation sector, citing that greater environmental, social and governance (ESG) transparency among Malaysian planters could pave the way for a sector re-rating. The research house said companies under its coverage recorded the strongest gains in the environmental pillar of the 2025 SPOTT assessment, with moderate improvements in the social and governance categories.
In its report, CIMB Securities highlighted SD Guthrie, IOI Corporation and Hap Seng Plantations as key beneficiaries of this rising ESG transparency, maintaining Buy calls on all three. SD Guthrie led globally with a SPOTT score of 97.5%, up 2.7 percentage points from the previous year, while IOI Corporation and Hap Seng Plantations recorded scores of 85.1% and 91.2%, ranking 20th and 15th, respectively, among the 100 palm oil companies assessed.
CIMB Securities noted that the SPOTT assessment, published by the Zoological Society of London (ZSL), is widely tracked by investors and evaluates up to 192 ESG indicators across 10 categories. The report’s findings show that while transparency among Malaysian planters has improved, global progress remains uneven, with only 51% of firms disclosing deforestation monitoring and just 18% achieving full supply chain traceability.
Despite these gaps, Malaysian companies stood out in the 2025 SPOTT results, benefiting from strengthened environmental reporting, deforestation monitoring and emissions disclosure ahead of the upcoming European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) and COP30 in Brazil. The research firm added that the social pillar also improved due to greater disclosure on labour rights, smallholder inclusion and community engagement, while governance scores remained largely stable.
CIMB Securities said stronger ESG transparency could attract renewed foreign investor interest in Malaysian plantations, which have long been under-owned due to sustainability concerns. The improvement in rankings, particularly with SD Guthrie and United Plantations taking the top two global spots, reflects growing efforts among local planters to align with international sustainability standards.
In terms of valuation, CIMB Securities set target prices at RM6.01 for SD Guthrie, RM4.11 for IOI Corporation, and RM2.23 for Hap Seng Plantations. The research house added that these firms’ consistent improvements in ESG metrics, coupled with healthy dividend yields ranging between 2.5% and 4.6%, could support long-term sector re-rating prospects as global investors increasingly favour transparent and sustainable palm oil producers. Business TodayMY
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Indonesia Pledges 1.4 Million Hectares of Customary Forests for Indigenous Peoples
Jakarta. Indonesia is allocating 1.4 million hectares of customary forests to Indigenous communities, Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni said at the Climate Summit in Belém, Brazil.
“This is part of the President’s concern for the environment and for communities that have long been marginalized,” Antoni said in a statement on Friday.
Antoni made the remarks while accompanying Presidential Special Envoy for Climate Change and Energy Hashim Djojohadikusumo. During the event, Hashim, speaking on behalf of President Prabowo, officially announced Indonesia’s commitment to allocate the areas.
“Earlier this year President Prabowo publicly announced our bold commitment to recognize and allocate 1.4 million hectares of customary forests for Indigenous and local communities within four years,” Hashim said.
Hashim was accompanied in Belém by Antoni and Environment Minister Hanif Faisol as part of Prabowo’s official COP30 delegation.
Antoni added that Indonesia has already set up a special task force to accelerate the recognition of customary forests. The task force, launched in March 2025 following Prabowo’s directives, has set a target to recognize 1.4 million hectares of new customary forest rights during 2025–2029.
“Recognizing customary forests is not only about respecting Indigenous rights; it has also been proven to reduce deforestation by 30–50 percent, based on The State of Indonesia's Forest (SOIFO) 2024 data,” he said.
The pledge comes as Indigenous organizations warn that industrial expansion continues to displace Indigenous peoples across Indonesia.
A new joint report by the Indigenous Peoples Alliance of the Archipelago (AMAN), the Global Alliance of Territorial Communities (GATC), regional Indigenous federations, and Earth Insight found more than 11.7 million hectares of customary lands have been taken over in the past decade. The coalition recorded nearly 700 land conflicts linked to mining, logging, oil and gas, geothermal projects, and other extractive industries.
According to the report, Indonesia’s customary territories span around 33.6 million hectares, covering some of the country’s most biodiverse and carbon-rich landscapes, yet only a fraction has been formally recognized.
Citing data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), the groups say less than 1 percent of more than 25 million hectares of Indigenous territories have legal recognition, while concessions for palm oil, forestry, and mining collectively cover tens of millions of hectares. Jakarta Globe
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November 07, 2025
Indonesia's Pertamina conducts trials on 100% palm oil biodiesel and jet fuel
JAKARTA, Jan 15 (Reuters) - Indonesia's state energy company PT Pertamina said on Friday it had started trials on diesel made entirely out of palm oil at its Cilacap refinery on Java island after conducting trials on jet fuel late last year.
Pertamina begun the trials of the so-called "Green Diesel" on Jan. 9 and they will continue till Jan. 16, a Pertamina spokesman said in the statement. Trials for the jet fuel took place at the end of December.
"This trial will continue until it is ready and safe to use as fuel that can be used by the community," spokesman Hatim Ilwan said.
Indonesia, the world's largest palm oil producer, currently has a mandatory biodiesel programme with 30% palm oil content known as B30, but the government is keen to expand the use of the vegetable oil for energy as it aims to slash fuel imports.
But a slump in fuel prices this year has made the programme less economical and plans to increase the biocontent to 40% have been delayed due to funding issues.
While the B30 programme uses fatty acid methyl ester, known as FAME, the Green Diesel uses refined, bleached and deodorized palm oil (RBDPO), which is palm oil that has been refined to remove free fatty acids and purification to remove color and odour, Hatim said. Reuters
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Brazil’s Biofuels Push Undermines Environmental Integrity at COP30
BRUSSELS, Belgium, November 7 (IPS) - President Prabowo Subianto welcomed his counterpart Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of Brazil to Jakarta recently to strengthen ties between the fast-growing economies.
The timing is significant. The meeting was just weeks before Brazil hosts the COP30 climate change talks in Belém, a bustling port city at the mouth of the Amazon River.
Like Brazil, Indonesia is home to expansive rainforests that attract intense international scrutiny because of their rich biodiversity and globally-important role as carbon sinks. And like Brazil, Indonesia has implemented new policies designed to boost biofuel use.
The leaders, who agreed to expand cooperation as two of the world’s largest biofuel producers, contend that the energy sources are needed to reduce reliance on imports and cut emissions.
But Indonesia has been down this road before.
n the mid-2000s, booming international demand for highly versatile palm oil—a key ingredient for biofuels—led the country to clear millions of hectares of rainforest and peatland to make way for vast plantations.
The gold rush for the oil displaced indigenous communities, smallholder farmers, and destroyed vital ecosystems that critically endangered species like orangutans, Sumatran tigers, and the Javan rhinoceros depend on to survive.
In Borneo alone, far from reducing carbon pollution, slash and burn agriculture caused the largest single-year global emissions increase seen in 2,000 years, according to NASA.
Falling demand and the introduction of conservation measures helped slow deforestation over the subsequent decade, however, the Subianto-Lula meeting reflects a troubling resurgence of biofuels as a global commodity. Global Issues
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Indonesia Blocks Illegal CPO Export Worth Rp 28.7 Billion
Jakarta. The Finance Ministry and the National Police say they have foiled an illegal export attempt involving crude palm oil derivatives worth Rp 28.7 billion (about US$1.7 million). The joint operation, which included the Customs Directorate General, the Tax Directorate General, and the National Police’s special task force on state revenue, uncovered 87 containers weighing 1,802 tons at Tanjung Priok Port in North Jakarta.
Customs chief Djaka Bhudi Utama said the case involved a company identified as PT MMS, which allegedly attempted to export the goods without complying with export duty rules and restrictions.
“The goods were declared as fatty matter weighing around 1,802 tons and worth Rp 28.7 billion. On the initial documents, they were not subject to export duties and were not listed as restricted items,” Djaka told reporters on Thursday.
He added that the Finance Ministry, in coordination with the Police task force, will strengthen upstream oversight, including inspections and law enforcement, to plug potential state revenue leaks. Jakarta Globe
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Malaysia's used cooking oil exports to face pressure in 2026 on domestic SAF production, says deputy minister
UALA LUMPUR (Nov 6): Malaysia's used cooking oil export volumes will face "immediate and moderate pressure" next year as a sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) plant in Johor ramps up production, the country's deputy plantation and commodities minister told Reuters.
Domestic players will actively secure feedstock to meet the 350,000-tonne capacity of the EcoCeres production facility, forcing them to offer competitive pricing to divert used cooking oil away from profitable international export routes, Datuk Chan Foong Hin said.
The EcoCeres facility became operational in October and will provide Malaysia’s first major source of ISCC CORSIA and ISCC EU-certified SAF, Chan said.
Exports surge; Singapore largest market
According to the Malaysia Palm Oil Board (MPOB), used cooking oil exports reached 465,257 tonnes in 2024, up from 310,368 tonnes in 2023. Singapore was the largest importer, accounting for 284,116 tonnes, followed by the US and the European Union with 158,231 tonnes and 19,819 tonnes, respectively.
"To manage domestic feedstock supply and secure competitiveness for the SAF industry, the ministry together with the MPOB, is currently reviewing and engaging with stakeholders regarding the potential implementation of a policy intervention to ensure a steady, sustainable supply of UCO (used cooking oil) for domestic industrial needs," Chan said, using an abbreviation for used cooking oil.
Chan also expects market demand to nearly triple with the commissioning of the Petronas, Enilive and Euglena biorefinery in Pengerang, targeted for completion in the third quarter of 2028.
Growing feedstock demand
"This plant commands a significant feedstock capacity of 650,000 tonnes. Collectively, these two facilities will create an annual feedstock demand of up to one million tonnes, establishing direct competition with international buyers for the global UCO supply," he said, adding that the challenge in the supply chain will be feedstock collection. The Edge
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Malaysia’s Wasco Greenergy set for IPO, tapping palm oil waste for bioenergy
Malaysia’s energy infrastructure company Wasco Bhd announced on Monday that its shareholders have approved the proposed listing of its bioenergy arm, Wasco Greenergy Bhd, marking a key step as the country’s bioenergy sector gains momentum.
Wasco Greenergy aims to debut on the local exchange in mid-December.
From EPCC provider to bioenergy player, Wasco diversifies its portfolio
Wasco Greenergy specializes in biomass steam energy systems, heat recovery steam generators, steam turbine generator systems, gas-fired steam systems, and palm oil milling equipment.
The Wasco Group, traditionally an engineering, procurement, construction, and commissioning (EPCC) contractor, has evolved into an asset owner undertaking full-scope EPCC works for biomass projects. The company now plans to deepen its footprint in the bioenergy sector as part of a broader long-term diversification strategy.
“The plan is to move beyond just building plants for others. If we can lock in long-term feedstock supply and secure offtake agreements — for example, selling energy to Tenaga Nasional — we could create a stable, recurring income stream,” said Giancarlo Maccagno, managing director and chief executive officer of Wasco, after its 25th annual general meeting. Recessary
Indonesia's Pertamina conducts trials on 100% palm oil biodiesel and jet fuel
JAKARTA, Jan 15 (Reuters) - Indonesia's state energy company PT Pertamina said on Friday it had started trials on diesel made entirely out of palm oil at its Cilacap refinery on Java island after conducting trials on jet fuel late last year.
Pertamina begun the trials of the so-called "Green Diesel" on Jan. 9 and they will continue till Jan. 16, a Pertamina spokesman said in the statement. Trials for the jet fuel took place at the end of December.
"This trial will continue until it is ready and safe to use as fuel that can be used by the community," spokesman Hatim Ilwan said.
Indonesia, the world's largest palm oil producer, currently has a mandatory biodiesel programme with 30% palm oil content known as B30, but the government is keen to expand the use of the vegetable oil for energy as it aims to slash fuel imports.
But a slump in fuel prices this year has made the programme less economical and plans to increase the biocontent to 40% have been delayed due to funding issues.
While the B30 programme uses fatty acid methyl ester, known as FAME, the Green Diesel uses refined, bleached and deodorized palm oil (RBDPO), which is palm oil that has been refined to remove free fatty acids and purification to remove color and odour, Hatim said. Reuters
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Brazil’s Biofuels Push Undermines Environmental Integrity at COP30
BRUSSELS, Belgium, November 7 (IPS) - President Prabowo Subianto welcomed his counterpart Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of Brazil to Jakarta recently to strengthen ties between the fast-growing economies.
The timing is significant. The meeting was just weeks before Brazil hosts the COP30 climate change talks in Belém, a bustling port city at the mouth of the Amazon River.
Like Brazil, Indonesia is home to expansive rainforests that attract intense international scrutiny because of their rich biodiversity and globally-important role as carbon sinks. And like Brazil, Indonesia has implemented new policies designed to boost biofuel use.
The leaders, who agreed to expand cooperation as two of the world’s largest biofuel producers, contend that the energy sources are needed to reduce reliance on imports and cut emissions.
But Indonesia has been down this road before.
n the mid-2000s, booming international demand for highly versatile palm oil—a key ingredient for biofuels—led the country to clear millions of hectares of rainforest and peatland to make way for vast plantations.
The gold rush for the oil displaced indigenous communities, smallholder farmers, and destroyed vital ecosystems that critically endangered species like orangutans, Sumatran tigers, and the Javan rhinoceros depend on to survive.
In Borneo alone, far from reducing carbon pollution, slash and burn agriculture caused the largest single-year global emissions increase seen in 2,000 years, according to NASA.
Falling demand and the introduction of conservation measures helped slow deforestation over the subsequent decade, however, the Subianto-Lula meeting reflects a troubling resurgence of biofuels as a global commodity. Global Issues
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Indonesia Blocks Illegal CPO Export Worth Rp 28.7 Billion
Jakarta. The Finance Ministry and the National Police say they have foiled an illegal export attempt involving crude palm oil derivatives worth Rp 28.7 billion (about US$1.7 million). The joint operation, which included the Customs Directorate General, the Tax Directorate General, and the National Police’s special task force on state revenue, uncovered 87 containers weighing 1,802 tons at Tanjung Priok Port in North Jakarta.
Customs chief Djaka Bhudi Utama said the case involved a company identified as PT MMS, which allegedly attempted to export the goods without complying with export duty rules and restrictions.
“The goods were declared as fatty matter weighing around 1,802 tons and worth Rp 28.7 billion. On the initial documents, they were not subject to export duties and were not listed as restricted items,” Djaka told reporters on Thursday.
He added that the Finance Ministry, in coordination with the Police task force, will strengthen upstream oversight, including inspections and law enforcement, to plug potential state revenue leaks. Jakarta Globe
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Malaysia's used cooking oil exports to face pressure in 2026 on domestic SAF production, says deputy minister
UALA LUMPUR (Nov 6): Malaysia's used cooking oil export volumes will face "immediate and moderate pressure" next year as a sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) plant in Johor ramps up production, the country's deputy plantation and commodities minister told Reuters.
Domestic players will actively secure feedstock to meet the 350,000-tonne capacity of the EcoCeres production facility, forcing them to offer competitive pricing to divert used cooking oil away from profitable international export routes, Datuk Chan Foong Hin said.
The EcoCeres facility became operational in October and will provide Malaysia’s first major source of ISCC CORSIA and ISCC EU-certified SAF, Chan said.
Exports surge; Singapore largest market
According to the Malaysia Palm Oil Board (MPOB), used cooking oil exports reached 465,257 tonnes in 2024, up from 310,368 tonnes in 2023. Singapore was the largest importer, accounting for 284,116 tonnes, followed by the US and the European Union with 158,231 tonnes and 19,819 tonnes, respectively.
"To manage domestic feedstock supply and secure competitiveness for the SAF industry, the ministry together with the MPOB, is currently reviewing and engaging with stakeholders regarding the potential implementation of a policy intervention to ensure a steady, sustainable supply of UCO (used cooking oil) for domestic industrial needs," Chan said, using an abbreviation for used cooking oil.
Chan also expects market demand to nearly triple with the commissioning of the Petronas, Enilive and Euglena biorefinery in Pengerang, targeted for completion in the third quarter of 2028.
Growing feedstock demand
"This plant commands a significant feedstock capacity of 650,000 tonnes. Collectively, these two facilities will create an annual feedstock demand of up to one million tonnes, establishing direct competition with international buyers for the global UCO supply," he said, adding that the challenge in the supply chain will be feedstock collection. The Edge
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Malaysia’s Wasco Greenergy set for IPO, tapping palm oil waste for bioenergy
Malaysia’s energy infrastructure company Wasco Bhd announced on Monday that its shareholders have approved the proposed listing of its bioenergy arm, Wasco Greenergy Bhd, marking a key step as the country’s bioenergy sector gains momentum.
Wasco Greenergy aims to debut on the local exchange in mid-December.
From EPCC provider to bioenergy player, Wasco diversifies its portfolio
Wasco Greenergy specializes in biomass steam energy systems, heat recovery steam generators, steam turbine generator systems, gas-fired steam systems, and palm oil milling equipment.
The Wasco Group, traditionally an engineering, procurement, construction, and commissioning (EPCC) contractor, has evolved into an asset owner undertaking full-scope EPCC works for biomass projects. The company now plans to deepen its footprint in the bioenergy sector as part of a broader long-term diversification strategy.
“The plan is to move beyond just building plants for others. If we can lock in long-term feedstock supply and secure offtake agreements — for example, selling energy to Tenaga Nasional — we could create a stable, recurring income stream,” said Giancarlo Maccagno, managing director and chief executive officer of Wasco, after its 25th annual general meeting. Recessary
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November 05, 2025
Global banks step up financing to companies behind deforestation
(Nov 5): Banks have arranged more than US$425 billion (RM1.7 trillion) of financing for the companies most responsible for deforestation over the past decade.
That includes US$72 billion provided to the beef, palm oil, soy, rubber, timber and paper industries in the past 18 months, according to data compiled by Forests & Finance since the Paris Agreement was announced in 2015.
“This is really showing that the financial sector isn’t aligning its financial flows with the objectives of the Paris Agreement,” said Stephanie Dowlen, one of the authors of the report. “And that was something that they were obliged to do.”
The comments come ahead of the United Nation’s COP30 climate summit in Brazil, where world leaders are starting to gather this week. “It’s clear that forest protection can’t be achieved by financing the same old chainsaw economy,” the Forests & Finance report said.
The increase in lending has coincided with a decline in the landmass covered by rainforests. Global loss of tropical and boreal forests, which play a key role in removing carbon dioxide from the air, accelerated last year with a record 6.7 million hectares destroyed, according to Global Forest Watch, a platform run by the non-profit World Resources Institute. More than half the loss was linked to fires made worse by record heat. The Edge/ Bloomberg
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Indonesia Steps Up Palm Oil Productivity and Sustainability Efforts
KBRN, Jakarta: Indonesia is stepping up efforts to boost productivity and sustainability in its palm oil industry, officials said on Tuesday, November 4, 2025. The government is expanding replanting programs, enforcing mandatory certification, and promoting bio-based innovation to strengthen one of the country’s largest economic sectors.
According to Dida Gardera, Expert Staff for Connectivity and Service Development at the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs, Indonesia currently has 16.38 million hectares of oil palm plantations, 53 percent managed by private companies, 6 percent by state-owned enterprises, and the remaining 41 percent by independent smallholders.
Speaking at a public discussion themed “The Role of the Palm Oil Industry in Sustainable Economic Development Toward Golden Indonesia 2045”, organized by Tempo Media Group in Jakarta on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, Dida said Indonesia’s palm oil productivity still has significant room for improvement.
“Currently, the national average yield is below four tons per hectare, while large-scale companies can reach 10 to 12 tons. Through the Smallholder Palm Oil Replanting Program (PSR), we expect productivity to double or even triple within the next four years," Dida said, as quoted by antaranews.com.
He emphasized that palm oil’s main advantage over other vegetable oils such as sunflower or rapeseed lies in its fourfold higher land productivity, making it the most efficient and sustainable option to meet global demand.
“Palm oil remains the world’s most productive oil crop and offers the most sustainable solution for global vegetable oil needs,” Dida added. RRI
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Opinion: Red palm oil can make it big with quality standards
PALM oil has sustained civilisations for millennia, with its earliest recorded use dating back to 4000 BCE (Before Common Era).
In its unrefined crude form, palm oil is a nutritional powerhouse, naturally rich in beta-carotene — the vivid red-orange pigment that gives crude palm oil its signature hue. As a precursor to vitamin A, it plays a vital role in supporting healthy vision; (contains) vitamin E, including both tocopherols and tocotrienols — potent antioxidants that help protect cells from oxidative stress; and squalene and coenzyme Q10 — compounds linked to cellular health, energy metabolism, and skin vitality.
In West and Central Africa — where the oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) originates — crude red palm oil is still traditionally produced in artisan style. The fruits are cooked, pressed, and bottled for direct sale and home use. This traditional form retains its full spectrum of beta-carotene and vitamin E, and its continued use may contribute to lower rates of lifestyle-related diseases when (it becomes) part of a minimally processed, whole-food, plant-rich eating pattern.
Yet this traditional oil, with its bold flavour and deep colour, may not meet the sensory expectations of modern consumers. For contemporary kitchens, crude palm oil is typically refined, bleached, and deodorised (RBD), then fractionated to separate its liquid and solid components. The outcome is refined palm olein — a light-yellow liquid fraction that serves as the standard cooking oil in many parts of the world. While the vibrant red hue and some nutrients are lost in the process, roughly half of the vitamin E content remains.
The Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) patented a nutrient-preserving process for red palm olein in 1999, later commercialised by Carotino Sdn Bhd under the leadership of chemical engineer UR Unnithan. The process employs short path distillation — a technically advanced method that gently retains heat-sensitive nutrients such as carotenes and tocotrienols, maintaining their potency while minimising thermal degradation. This precision technique requires significant investment and operational expertise, contributing to the higher cost of red palm olein compared to conventional cooking oils.
Global rise of red palm oil The Edge
Global banks step up financing to companies behind deforestation
(Nov 5): Banks have arranged more than US$425 billion (RM1.7 trillion) of financing for the companies most responsible for deforestation over the past decade.
That includes US$72 billion provided to the beef, palm oil, soy, rubber, timber and paper industries in the past 18 months, according to data compiled by Forests & Finance since the Paris Agreement was announced in 2015.
“This is really showing that the financial sector isn’t aligning its financial flows with the objectives of the Paris Agreement,” said Stephanie Dowlen, one of the authors of the report. “And that was something that they were obliged to do.”
The comments come ahead of the United Nation’s COP30 climate summit in Brazil, where world leaders are starting to gather this week. “It’s clear that forest protection can’t be achieved by financing the same old chainsaw economy,” the Forests & Finance report said.
The increase in lending has coincided with a decline in the landmass covered by rainforests. Global loss of tropical and boreal forests, which play a key role in removing carbon dioxide from the air, accelerated last year with a record 6.7 million hectares destroyed, according to Global Forest Watch, a platform run by the non-profit World Resources Institute. More than half the loss was linked to fires made worse by record heat. The Edge/ Bloomberg
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Indonesia Steps Up Palm Oil Productivity and Sustainability Efforts
KBRN, Jakarta: Indonesia is stepping up efforts to boost productivity and sustainability in its palm oil industry, officials said on Tuesday, November 4, 2025. The government is expanding replanting programs, enforcing mandatory certification, and promoting bio-based innovation to strengthen one of the country’s largest economic sectors.
According to Dida Gardera, Expert Staff for Connectivity and Service Development at the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs, Indonesia currently has 16.38 million hectares of oil palm plantations, 53 percent managed by private companies, 6 percent by state-owned enterprises, and the remaining 41 percent by independent smallholders.
Speaking at a public discussion themed “The Role of the Palm Oil Industry in Sustainable Economic Development Toward Golden Indonesia 2045”, organized by Tempo Media Group in Jakarta on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, Dida said Indonesia’s palm oil productivity still has significant room for improvement.
“Currently, the national average yield is below four tons per hectare, while large-scale companies can reach 10 to 12 tons. Through the Smallholder Palm Oil Replanting Program (PSR), we expect productivity to double or even triple within the next four years," Dida said, as quoted by antaranews.com.
He emphasized that palm oil’s main advantage over other vegetable oils such as sunflower or rapeseed lies in its fourfold higher land productivity, making it the most efficient and sustainable option to meet global demand.
“Palm oil remains the world’s most productive oil crop and offers the most sustainable solution for global vegetable oil needs,” Dida added. RRI
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Opinion: Red palm oil can make it big with quality standards
PALM oil has sustained civilisations for millennia, with its earliest recorded use dating back to 4000 BCE (Before Common Era).
In its unrefined crude form, palm oil is a nutritional powerhouse, naturally rich in beta-carotene — the vivid red-orange pigment that gives crude palm oil its signature hue. As a precursor to vitamin A, it plays a vital role in supporting healthy vision; (contains) vitamin E, including both tocopherols and tocotrienols — potent antioxidants that help protect cells from oxidative stress; and squalene and coenzyme Q10 — compounds linked to cellular health, energy metabolism, and skin vitality.
In West and Central Africa — where the oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) originates — crude red palm oil is still traditionally produced in artisan style. The fruits are cooked, pressed, and bottled for direct sale and home use. This traditional form retains its full spectrum of beta-carotene and vitamin E, and its continued use may contribute to lower rates of lifestyle-related diseases when (it becomes) part of a minimally processed, whole-food, plant-rich eating pattern.
Yet this traditional oil, with its bold flavour and deep colour, may not meet the sensory expectations of modern consumers. For contemporary kitchens, crude palm oil is typically refined, bleached, and deodorised (RBD), then fractionated to separate its liquid and solid components. The outcome is refined palm olein — a light-yellow liquid fraction that serves as the standard cooking oil in many parts of the world. While the vibrant red hue and some nutrients are lost in the process, roughly half of the vitamin E content remains.
The Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) patented a nutrient-preserving process for red palm olein in 1999, later commercialised by Carotino Sdn Bhd under the leadership of chemical engineer UR Unnithan. The process employs short path distillation — a technically advanced method that gently retains heat-sensitive nutrients such as carotenes and tocotrienols, maintaining their potency while minimising thermal degradation. This precision technique requires significant investment and operational expertise, contributing to the higher cost of red palm olein compared to conventional cooking oils.
Global rise of red palm oil The Edge
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November 04, 2025
Austria to push for ‘stop-the-clock’ on deforestation rules at Council
Last week, agriculture ministers already rebuked the Commission’s plan to maintain the enforcement date for most companies this year
Austria will spearhead a push at the Council this week to “stop the clock” on the bloc’s deforestation rules until the end of 2026, as part of efforts to buy time and secure tweaks that would exempt most European countries from compliance with the sustainability rules.
As part of a world first regulatory push, the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) requires importers of cocoa, coffee, palm oil, cattle, timber, and rubber to prove their products did not cause deforestation.
The European Commission proposed last month to reopen the rules to ease implementation and avoid overburdening the IT system needed to share compliance data.
In a note dated 31 October and designed to steer debate in Council, Vienna said that the Commission’s proposal “falls short of expectations,” criticising the executive for backtracking on an earlier idea to grant a one-year delay for all companies.
The text will be discussed by EU environment ministers at their Council meeting in Brussels on Tuesday.
A diplomatic source said that at least 13 countries could be aligned with Austria’s demands.
Austria argues for an “immediate stop-the-clock” on EUDR implementation for one year “until simplifications have been concluded,” saying there is not enough time to change the rules before they take effect in December.
Vienna is also calling for some countries to be classified as “no risk” of deforestation, for a minimum threshold below which the rules would not apply, and for lighter requirements along the value chain.
“Sustainable forest management is part of Austria’s DNA,” Agriculture and Environment Minister Norbert Totschnig told Euractiv via email on Saturday. “However, in its current form, the EUDR risks penalising those who are already practising sustainable forest management,” he added.
Last week, agriculture ministers rebuked the Commission’s plan to maintain the enforcement date for most companies this year, criticising the lack of time for negotiations
At a closed-door meeting on Wednesday, EU ambassadors also voiced concerns, with a majority backing a one-year delay but diverging on how to adapt the rules to ease compliance.
Even to delay the legislation, the Council and European Parliament would need to reach an agreement by 15 December – the final opportunity for a plenary vote in Strasbourg before the end of the year. Euractiv
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MPOB slams West for ‘double standards’ over palm oil, climate policy
Datuk Mohamad Helmy Othman Basha accuses rich nations of hypocrisy for vilifying palm oil while excusing fossil fuel emissions in the name of energy security
KUALA LUMPUR — The world must end its hypocrisy in treating palm oil as an “environmental villain” while giving fossil fuel producers a free pass, said Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) chairman Datuk Mohamad Helmy Othman Basha, in a scathing critique of global climate politics.
Speaking at the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) 2025 conference today, Helmy said the world’s major economies had long applied “colonial thinking” and “economic apartheid” to developing nations through policies that penalise palm oil, despite mounting evidence of sustainability progress in Malaysia and Indonesia.
“When fossil fuel use is excused in the name of ‘energy security’, sustainable palm oil is banned in the name of ‘deforestation’,” said Helmy, who is also the group managing director of SD Guthrie Bhd.
“Because of these double standards that developing countries cannot afford to fight against, a new challenge is emerging — one that affects global availability itself.”
He warned that persistent hostility towards palm oil has pushed major producers to prioritise domestic needs over exports, reshaping global supply.
Indonesia, he noted, already operates a B40 biodiesel blend, with plans to move toward B50 and eventually B60, while Malaysia is advancing its B30 programme. Scoop
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SD Guthrie rises to top of London-based SPOTT palm oil ESG assessment ranking
KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 4): SD Guthrie Bhd (KL:SDG) has emerged as the top-ranked company globally in the Zoological Society of London’s SPOTT palm oil assessment for 2025, scoring a 97.5% for its disclosure of environmental, social and governance (ESG) practices.
SD Guthrie is the world’s first palm-oil company with net-zero greenhouse-gas emission targets approved by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), the company said in a statement.
It operates 234 plantation estates and 11 refineries across Malaysia, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands, producing about 12% of the world’s certified sustainable palm oil.
The score places SD Guthrie ahead of 100 palm-oil producers, processors, and traders evaluated under SPOTT, short for the Sustainability Policy Transparency Toolkit. The platform benchmarks companies on more than 100 sector-specific ESG indicators. The plantation group rose from third place last year, when it scored 94.8%.
Its chief sustainability officer Rashyid Redza Anwarudin said the latest ranking reflects SD Guthrie’s progress in traceability and responsible sourcing efforts.
“Achieving transparency across our global operations is no mean feat, and this reinforces our determination to set standards that catalyse positive change within the industry," Rashyid said.
Listed on Bursa Malaysia with a market capitalisation of RM36.9 billion as of Nov 3, SD Guthrie is a strategic company of Permodalan Nasional Bhd (PNB), with institutional investors including the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) and Retirement Fund Inc (KWAP). The Edge
Austria to push for ‘stop-the-clock’ on deforestation rules at Council
Last week, agriculture ministers already rebuked the Commission’s plan to maintain the enforcement date for most companies this year
Austria will spearhead a push at the Council this week to “stop the clock” on the bloc’s deforestation rules until the end of 2026, as part of efforts to buy time and secure tweaks that would exempt most European countries from compliance with the sustainability rules.
As part of a world first regulatory push, the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) requires importers of cocoa, coffee, palm oil, cattle, timber, and rubber to prove their products did not cause deforestation.
The European Commission proposed last month to reopen the rules to ease implementation and avoid overburdening the IT system needed to share compliance data.
In a note dated 31 October and designed to steer debate in Council, Vienna said that the Commission’s proposal “falls short of expectations,” criticising the executive for backtracking on an earlier idea to grant a one-year delay for all companies.
The text will be discussed by EU environment ministers at their Council meeting in Brussels on Tuesday.
A diplomatic source said that at least 13 countries could be aligned with Austria’s demands.
Austria argues for an “immediate stop-the-clock” on EUDR implementation for one year “until simplifications have been concluded,” saying there is not enough time to change the rules before they take effect in December.
Vienna is also calling for some countries to be classified as “no risk” of deforestation, for a minimum threshold below which the rules would not apply, and for lighter requirements along the value chain.
“Sustainable forest management is part of Austria’s DNA,” Agriculture and Environment Minister Norbert Totschnig told Euractiv via email on Saturday. “However, in its current form, the EUDR risks penalising those who are already practising sustainable forest management,” he added.
Last week, agriculture ministers rebuked the Commission’s plan to maintain the enforcement date for most companies this year, criticising the lack of time for negotiations
At a closed-door meeting on Wednesday, EU ambassadors also voiced concerns, with a majority backing a one-year delay but diverging on how to adapt the rules to ease compliance.
Even to delay the legislation, the Council and European Parliament would need to reach an agreement by 15 December – the final opportunity for a plenary vote in Strasbourg before the end of the year. Euractiv
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MPOB slams West for ‘double standards’ over palm oil, climate policy
Datuk Mohamad Helmy Othman Basha accuses rich nations of hypocrisy for vilifying palm oil while excusing fossil fuel emissions in the name of energy security
KUALA LUMPUR — The world must end its hypocrisy in treating palm oil as an “environmental villain” while giving fossil fuel producers a free pass, said Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) chairman Datuk Mohamad Helmy Othman Basha, in a scathing critique of global climate politics.
Speaking at the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) 2025 conference today, Helmy said the world’s major economies had long applied “colonial thinking” and “economic apartheid” to developing nations through policies that penalise palm oil, despite mounting evidence of sustainability progress in Malaysia and Indonesia.
“When fossil fuel use is excused in the name of ‘energy security’, sustainable palm oil is banned in the name of ‘deforestation’,” said Helmy, who is also the group managing director of SD Guthrie Bhd.
“Because of these double standards that developing countries cannot afford to fight against, a new challenge is emerging — one that affects global availability itself.”
He warned that persistent hostility towards palm oil has pushed major producers to prioritise domestic needs over exports, reshaping global supply.
Indonesia, he noted, already operates a B40 biodiesel blend, with plans to move toward B50 and eventually B60, while Malaysia is advancing its B30 programme. Scoop
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SD Guthrie rises to top of London-based SPOTT palm oil ESG assessment ranking
KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 4): SD Guthrie Bhd (KL:SDG) has emerged as the top-ranked company globally in the Zoological Society of London’s SPOTT palm oil assessment for 2025, scoring a 97.5% for its disclosure of environmental, social and governance (ESG) practices.
SD Guthrie is the world’s first palm-oil company with net-zero greenhouse-gas emission targets approved by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), the company said in a statement.
It operates 234 plantation estates and 11 refineries across Malaysia, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands, producing about 12% of the world’s certified sustainable palm oil.
The score places SD Guthrie ahead of 100 palm-oil producers, processors, and traders evaluated under SPOTT, short for the Sustainability Policy Transparency Toolkit. The platform benchmarks companies on more than 100 sector-specific ESG indicators. The plantation group rose from third place last year, when it scored 94.8%.
Its chief sustainability officer Rashyid Redza Anwarudin said the latest ranking reflects SD Guthrie’s progress in traceability and responsible sourcing efforts.
“Achieving transparency across our global operations is no mean feat, and this reinforces our determination to set standards that catalyse positive change within the industry," Rashyid said.
Listed on Bursa Malaysia with a market capitalisation of RM36.9 billion as of Nov 3, SD Guthrie is a strategic company of Permodalan Nasional Bhd (PNB), with institutional investors including the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) and Retirement Fund Inc (KWAP). The Edge
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November 03, 2025
Indonesia continue to promote fuel blending policies to reduce energy imports
Jakarta – The government continues to strengthen measures to reduce dependence on imported energy, which has been a burden on the country’s foreign exchange reserves. One of the main strategies currently being accelerated is the fuel blending policy — mixing fossil fuels with plant-based energy sources such as biodiesel and ethanol.
Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Bahlil Lahadalia stated on Thursday, October 30, that Indonesia’s annual energy imports have reached Rp520 trillion (USD 31.23 billion)—a significant amount that could deplete the country’s foreign exchange reserves. To address this, the government views the blending policy as a step to reduce import dependence while strengthening national energy security and self-sufficiency.
“Every year, we lose Rp520 trillion to purchase energy raw materials from abroad. The Indonesian people’s money is actually being used to enrich other countries,” said Bahlil.
Still comfortable with the import scheme
According to Bahlil, some businesspeople still want to maintain energy import practices because they benefit from the import quota system that has been in place so far. “Those who want imports to continue are the parties who are too comfortable with the system. They enjoy large margins from import activities,” he said.
However, Bahlil continued, President Prabowo Subianto’s administration is committed to reducing dependence on foreign energy supplies, in line with the policy direction of energy independence and national downstreaming.
Bahlil said that “before the biodiesel program, we imported around 34 million tons of diesel fuel per year. Now, after the implementation of B10–B40, imports have fallen dramatically to around 4.9 million barrels per year.”
This biodiesel program not only reduces imports but also strengthens the domestic palm oil industry, which is the main source of vegetable blend raw materials.
Ethanol and DME are the next focus Tanah Air
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Unfair EU rules could squeeze palm oil out of global supply chain — MPOB chairman
KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 3): The European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) risks squeezing palm oil out of global supply chains, as persistent bias and trade barriers continue to penalise producing nations despite their proven progress in protecting forests, said Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) chairman Datuk Mohamad Helmy Othman Basha.
He cautioned that persistent bias and restrictive rules could trigger a shortage in global supply, with top producers like Indonesia — the world’s largest palm oil exporter — diverting more output to meet domestic needs, including its B50 biodiesel mandate.
“The relentless negativity towards palm oil has resulted in some markets pushing it away. And so, the anti-palm oil folk may soon get their wish — the world is already seeing the steady disappearance of palm oil from the global market,” he said in his speech at the Annual Roundtable Conference on Sustainable Palm Oil (RT2025).
Helmy, who is also the group managing director of SD Guthrie Bhd (KL:SDG), said the EUDR continues to unfairly penalise developing countries such as Malaysia and Indonesia despite their tangible progress in curbing deforestation.
Citing data from the World Resources Institute and Global Forest Watch, he noted that Malaysia’s primary forest loss has fallen by more than 60% from its peak, while Indonesia has recorded consistent annual declines — with both nations maintaining over 50% forest cover, higher than many developed countries.
“Despite a record of declining deforestation and maintaining forest cover above 50%, Malaysia was given a ‘standard-risk’ rating under the EUDR, while countries with worse track records and lower forest cover were rated ‘low risk’. To some of us, it feels like the same old tune — victimise palm oil producers so others can continue doing what they always have done,” he said.
Helmy argued that applying uniform environmental standards across rich and poor nations is inherently unjust, calling it “economic apartheid”. Deforestation, he said, must be viewed alongside economic realities, as developing nations still rely on their natural resources to build infrastructure, create jobs, and sustain livelihoods.
“The only equitable and ethical solution is to allow poorer nations to use their natural resources responsibly. The quid pro quo? Every rich country with less than 50% forest cover must step up and start planting — or start paying underdeveloped nations to maintain theirs. There is no other way,” he said. The Edge
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Stop demonising palm oil, says SD Guthrie
KUALA LUMPUR: SD Guthrie Bhd has called for an end to the skewed perception on palm oil that paints it as an environmental villain.
Group managing director Datuk Mohamad Helmy Othman Basha said the relentless negativity towards palm oil has resulted in markets pushing the commodity away.
"Over the past three decades, while palm oil was being painted as one of the great environmental villains, fossil fuel producers — whose emissions are the largest direct cause of climate change — often escaped equivalent moral outrage, despite having far greater, global-scale impacts.
"When fossil fuel use is often excused in the name of 'energy security', sustainable palm oil is banned in the name of 'deforestation'.
"Thanks to all these double standards that developing countries cannot afford to fight against, a new challenge is emerging — one that affects global availability itself," he said at the roundtable conference on sustainable palm oil here today.
He noted that Indonesia, the world's largest producer of palm oil, is turning inward.
"The anti-palm oil folk may soon get their wish, the world is already seeing the steady disappearance of palm oil from the global market."
He added that palm oil was often associated with deforestation, with powerful images to back the alleged claims.
However, the narrative has changed and showed that the problems the world is facing was never all about palm oil.
"We all know that if every hectare of oil palm plantation in the world is returned to forest, the world would be much worse off."
Deforestation would increase as less efficient replacement crops were planted to meet global vegetable oil demand.
"Socio economic challenges will befall thousands of smallholders and small companies in the producer countries, as they turn towards less financially rewarding crops," said Mohamad Helmy.
He cited the World Resources Institute and Global Forest Watch that revealed primary forest loss in Malaysia and Indonesia had significantly dropped over the past decade.
Forest loss in Malaysia dropped more than 60 per cent in its peak while Indonesia is seeing a decline in deforestation every year, he added.
This resulted in more than 50 per cent of forest cover for both countries.
"These are verifiable facts. Take for example the European Union Deforestation Regulation.
"A record of declining deforestation and maintaining forest cover at above 50 per cent, landed Malaysia a standard risk rating. And yet, other countries with worse track records and lower forest cover, were rated low risk.
He added that applying a single standard for land use change is unfair. However, applying a more stringent standard on a poor or developing country is economic apartheid.
"The only equitable and ethical solutions for poorer countries are to allow them to use their natural resources and they should be allowed to lose some of their forest to stimulate economic activity for their people," he said.
On biodiesel blending, he said a rise in blending means more palm oil is used domestically for energy, making it less available for export.
Indonesia is eyeing a B60 biodiesel mandate while Malaysia is aiming towards B30.
"Analysts estimate that if Indonesia reaches B50, that alone could absorb an additional three-four million tonnes of palm oil per year.
"So, while the global North debates whether to 'phase out' palm oil, the two biggest producers are blending it for fuel.
"Is this the outcome that the anti-palm oil lobby wanted? The world is losing access to the most efficient, most productive, and most sustainably produced vegetable oil," he added. NST
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“No palm oil” label by RSPO Members undermines sustainable palm oil growers
There are brands that sit with us at the same table, that claim to believe in sustainable palm oil — yet proudly sell products that say “No Palm Oil.”
Speech by Datuk Mohamad Helmy Othman Basha, Group Managing Director of SD Guthrie and
Chairman of the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB), at RSPO RT2025 – Shangri-La Hotel Kuala
Lumpur, Malaysia, 3 November 2025
We cannot preach sustainability in this room but reinforce the old rhetoric that palm oil is bad. Make no mistake, when you advertise the absence of palm oil, what you are saying is, “this product is good, because there is no palm oil in it.”
Ladies and Gentlemen, to believe in Certified Sustainable Palm Oil is to defend it —consistently, publicly, and without apology. If you are a global brand, you can't hide by claiming your business in Spain is run independently from the one in Malaysia. Just
like Guthrie cannot say our business in South Africa is independent from our business in Solomon Islands when it comes to sustainability.
Download the full speech from Speech by Datuk Mohamad Helmy Othman Basha, Group Managing Director of SD Guthrie and Chairman of the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB), at RSPO RT2025 – Shangri-La Hotel Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 3 November 2025
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Palm Oil Smallholders Issue Urgent Call to Buyers as Sustainability Efforts Fail to Deliver Enough Income
KUALA LUMPUR – 3 NOVEMBER 2025
During the 2025 Annual Conference of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), a serious issue emerges: tens of thousands of certified independent smallholders are being left behind by the very system designed to support them. Despite achieving RSPO certification—a process requiring significant investment and commitment to social and environmental standards—the market is failing to purchase their certified produce and reward their efforts to invest in sustainability. The lack of uptake of credits creates a financial challenge for small farmers and threatens the integrity of the sustainable palm oil movement.
At the RT2025 conference in Kuala Lumpur (November 3–5), smallholders are demanding that their voices be heard. They are urging global buyers and corporations to immediately step up support and buy more volume of their produce, or buy their RSPO credits: credits that are meant to compensate farmers for their sustainability efforts. In short, farmers demand to be a more integral part of the palm oil value chain.
On day one of the conference, small-scale farmer and ISH group manager Pedro Seijas from Peru delivered a strong call for support. Seijas, the Chairman of the National Association of Independent Palm Oil Farmers (ANICAP), stated:
“Today, nearly 50,000 smallholders certified under the RSPO Independent Smallholder Standard (ISH) are making a real contribution to the sector's transformation. We’ve done our part. But we share a common challenge: shifting from implementing sustainability to making a living from sustainability. The way forward requires a comprehensive strategy to stimulate demand for sustainably produced material —one that combines visibility, education, and shared responsibility.”
A $282 Billion Industry Overlooking SmallholdersMarieke Leegwater, senior oil palm expert at Solidaridad, confirms that Seijas touches on a sensitive and critical issue. "The embedded palm oil value chain, with a value of $282 billion, generates huge profits for companies, yet smallholder oil palm farmers often risk living in poverty. Smallholders contribute around 30% of global production and play an increasingly central role in rural economic development and preserving biodiversity. However, this pivotal role is often overlooked, with policies implemented by buying companies focusing on compliance, creating requirements that are more easily met by large industrial plantations."
To support smallholders rewarding their sustainability efforts, the RSPO created the Independent Smallholder Credits, a mechanism designed to provide financial incentives to certified farmers. However, the system does not sufficiently deliver the desired results: while the number of certified independent smallholders is growing rapidly, the purchase of their corresponding credits is declining.
Leegwater expresses concern: “The lack of uptake of Independent smallholder credits is part of a bigger problem, where smallholder realities are insufficiently taken into account by end-users of palm oil. The lack of uptake of credits exemplifies this problem. The number of smallholders achieving RSPO certification over the last year was impressive. It is quite frustrating to see that their certificates are not being bought now. We call upon all buyers to urgently look into the options they have to buy these credits for a fair price.”
Value of credits traded for Certified Sustainable Palm Oil (CSPO) and Certified Sustainable Palm Kernal Oil (CSPKO) in USD (source: RSPO Impact Update Report 2025)
The Path to Sustainable Palm Oil Value Chains Must Be Inclusive
In May, Solidaridad published the global Palm Oil Barometer, laying down recommendations on how to do this. The report maps the smallholder situation and gives recommendations for companies to ensure more smallholder-inclusive sourcing.
The core question, according to Seijas, remains: “ It is not ‘How many producers can we certify?’ but rather ‘How do we generate sustainable incentives that match the tremendous effort of smallholders?’ The answer starts with buyers closing the loop.”
For more information or interviews, please contact Solidaridad’s press officer Bram Verkerke: [email protected] or call +31 6 296 01233.
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Indonesia continue to promote fuel blending policies to reduce energy imports
Jakarta – The government continues to strengthen measures to reduce dependence on imported energy, which has been a burden on the country’s foreign exchange reserves. One of the main strategies currently being accelerated is the fuel blending policy — mixing fossil fuels with plant-based energy sources such as biodiesel and ethanol.
Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Bahlil Lahadalia stated on Thursday, October 30, that Indonesia’s annual energy imports have reached Rp520 trillion (USD 31.23 billion)—a significant amount that could deplete the country’s foreign exchange reserves. To address this, the government views the blending policy as a step to reduce import dependence while strengthening national energy security and self-sufficiency.
“Every year, we lose Rp520 trillion to purchase energy raw materials from abroad. The Indonesian people’s money is actually being used to enrich other countries,” said Bahlil.
Still comfortable with the import scheme
According to Bahlil, some businesspeople still want to maintain energy import practices because they benefit from the import quota system that has been in place so far. “Those who want imports to continue are the parties who are too comfortable with the system. They enjoy large margins from import activities,” he said.
However, Bahlil continued, President Prabowo Subianto’s administration is committed to reducing dependence on foreign energy supplies, in line with the policy direction of energy independence and national downstreaming.
Bahlil said that “before the biodiesel program, we imported around 34 million tons of diesel fuel per year. Now, after the implementation of B10–B40, imports have fallen dramatically to around 4.9 million barrels per year.”
This biodiesel program not only reduces imports but also strengthens the domestic palm oil industry, which is the main source of vegetable blend raw materials.
Ethanol and DME are the next focus Tanah Air
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Unfair EU rules could squeeze palm oil out of global supply chain — MPOB chairman
KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 3): The European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) risks squeezing palm oil out of global supply chains, as persistent bias and trade barriers continue to penalise producing nations despite their proven progress in protecting forests, said Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) chairman Datuk Mohamad Helmy Othman Basha.
He cautioned that persistent bias and restrictive rules could trigger a shortage in global supply, with top producers like Indonesia — the world’s largest palm oil exporter — diverting more output to meet domestic needs, including its B50 biodiesel mandate.
“The relentless negativity towards palm oil has resulted in some markets pushing it away. And so, the anti-palm oil folk may soon get their wish — the world is already seeing the steady disappearance of palm oil from the global market,” he said in his speech at the Annual Roundtable Conference on Sustainable Palm Oil (RT2025).
Helmy, who is also the group managing director of SD Guthrie Bhd (KL:SDG), said the EUDR continues to unfairly penalise developing countries such as Malaysia and Indonesia despite their tangible progress in curbing deforestation.
Citing data from the World Resources Institute and Global Forest Watch, he noted that Malaysia’s primary forest loss has fallen by more than 60% from its peak, while Indonesia has recorded consistent annual declines — with both nations maintaining over 50% forest cover, higher than many developed countries.
“Despite a record of declining deforestation and maintaining forest cover above 50%, Malaysia was given a ‘standard-risk’ rating under the EUDR, while countries with worse track records and lower forest cover were rated ‘low risk’. To some of us, it feels like the same old tune — victimise palm oil producers so others can continue doing what they always have done,” he said.
Helmy argued that applying uniform environmental standards across rich and poor nations is inherently unjust, calling it “economic apartheid”. Deforestation, he said, must be viewed alongside economic realities, as developing nations still rely on their natural resources to build infrastructure, create jobs, and sustain livelihoods.
“The only equitable and ethical solution is to allow poorer nations to use their natural resources responsibly. The quid pro quo? Every rich country with less than 50% forest cover must step up and start planting — or start paying underdeveloped nations to maintain theirs. There is no other way,” he said. The Edge
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Stop demonising palm oil, says SD Guthrie
KUALA LUMPUR: SD Guthrie Bhd has called for an end to the skewed perception on palm oil that paints it as an environmental villain.
Group managing director Datuk Mohamad Helmy Othman Basha said the relentless negativity towards palm oil has resulted in markets pushing the commodity away.
"Over the past three decades, while palm oil was being painted as one of the great environmental villains, fossil fuel producers — whose emissions are the largest direct cause of climate change — often escaped equivalent moral outrage, despite having far greater, global-scale impacts.
"When fossil fuel use is often excused in the name of 'energy security', sustainable palm oil is banned in the name of 'deforestation'.
"Thanks to all these double standards that developing countries cannot afford to fight against, a new challenge is emerging — one that affects global availability itself," he said at the roundtable conference on sustainable palm oil here today.
He noted that Indonesia, the world's largest producer of palm oil, is turning inward.
"The anti-palm oil folk may soon get their wish, the world is already seeing the steady disappearance of palm oil from the global market."
He added that palm oil was often associated with deforestation, with powerful images to back the alleged claims.
However, the narrative has changed and showed that the problems the world is facing was never all about palm oil.
"We all know that if every hectare of oil palm plantation in the world is returned to forest, the world would be much worse off."
Deforestation would increase as less efficient replacement crops were planted to meet global vegetable oil demand.
"Socio economic challenges will befall thousands of smallholders and small companies in the producer countries, as they turn towards less financially rewarding crops," said Mohamad Helmy.
He cited the World Resources Institute and Global Forest Watch that revealed primary forest loss in Malaysia and Indonesia had significantly dropped over the past decade.
Forest loss in Malaysia dropped more than 60 per cent in its peak while Indonesia is seeing a decline in deforestation every year, he added.
This resulted in more than 50 per cent of forest cover for both countries.
"These are verifiable facts. Take for example the European Union Deforestation Regulation.
"A record of declining deforestation and maintaining forest cover at above 50 per cent, landed Malaysia a standard risk rating. And yet, other countries with worse track records and lower forest cover, were rated low risk.
He added that applying a single standard for land use change is unfair. However, applying a more stringent standard on a poor or developing country is economic apartheid.
"The only equitable and ethical solutions for poorer countries are to allow them to use their natural resources and they should be allowed to lose some of their forest to stimulate economic activity for their people," he said.
On biodiesel blending, he said a rise in blending means more palm oil is used domestically for energy, making it less available for export.
Indonesia is eyeing a B60 biodiesel mandate while Malaysia is aiming towards B30.
"Analysts estimate that if Indonesia reaches B50, that alone could absorb an additional three-four million tonnes of palm oil per year.
"So, while the global North debates whether to 'phase out' palm oil, the two biggest producers are blending it for fuel.
"Is this the outcome that the anti-palm oil lobby wanted? The world is losing access to the most efficient, most productive, and most sustainably produced vegetable oil," he added. NST
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“No palm oil” label by RSPO Members undermines sustainable palm oil growers
There are brands that sit with us at the same table, that claim to believe in sustainable palm oil — yet proudly sell products that say “No Palm Oil.”
Speech by Datuk Mohamad Helmy Othman Basha, Group Managing Director of SD Guthrie and
Chairman of the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB), at RSPO RT2025 – Shangri-La Hotel Kuala
Lumpur, Malaysia, 3 November 2025
We cannot preach sustainability in this room but reinforce the old rhetoric that palm oil is bad. Make no mistake, when you advertise the absence of palm oil, what you are saying is, “this product is good, because there is no palm oil in it.”
Ladies and Gentlemen, to believe in Certified Sustainable Palm Oil is to defend it —consistently, publicly, and without apology. If you are a global brand, you can't hide by claiming your business in Spain is run independently from the one in Malaysia. Just
like Guthrie cannot say our business in South Africa is independent from our business in Solomon Islands when it comes to sustainability.
Download the full speech from Speech by Datuk Mohamad Helmy Othman Basha, Group Managing Director of SD Guthrie and Chairman of the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB), at RSPO RT2025 – Shangri-La Hotel Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 3 November 2025
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Palm Oil Smallholders Issue Urgent Call to Buyers as Sustainability Efforts Fail to Deliver Enough Income
KUALA LUMPUR – 3 NOVEMBER 2025
During the 2025 Annual Conference of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), a serious issue emerges: tens of thousands of certified independent smallholders are being left behind by the very system designed to support them. Despite achieving RSPO certification—a process requiring significant investment and commitment to social and environmental standards—the market is failing to purchase their certified produce and reward their efforts to invest in sustainability. The lack of uptake of credits creates a financial challenge for small farmers and threatens the integrity of the sustainable palm oil movement.
At the RT2025 conference in Kuala Lumpur (November 3–5), smallholders are demanding that their voices be heard. They are urging global buyers and corporations to immediately step up support and buy more volume of their produce, or buy their RSPO credits: credits that are meant to compensate farmers for their sustainability efforts. In short, farmers demand to be a more integral part of the palm oil value chain.
On day one of the conference, small-scale farmer and ISH group manager Pedro Seijas from Peru delivered a strong call for support. Seijas, the Chairman of the National Association of Independent Palm Oil Farmers (ANICAP), stated:
“Today, nearly 50,000 smallholders certified under the RSPO Independent Smallholder Standard (ISH) are making a real contribution to the sector's transformation. We’ve done our part. But we share a common challenge: shifting from implementing sustainability to making a living from sustainability. The way forward requires a comprehensive strategy to stimulate demand for sustainably produced material —one that combines visibility, education, and shared responsibility.”
A $282 Billion Industry Overlooking SmallholdersMarieke Leegwater, senior oil palm expert at Solidaridad, confirms that Seijas touches on a sensitive and critical issue. "The embedded palm oil value chain, with a value of $282 billion, generates huge profits for companies, yet smallholder oil palm farmers often risk living in poverty. Smallholders contribute around 30% of global production and play an increasingly central role in rural economic development and preserving biodiversity. However, this pivotal role is often overlooked, with policies implemented by buying companies focusing on compliance, creating requirements that are more easily met by large industrial plantations."
To support smallholders rewarding their sustainability efforts, the RSPO created the Independent Smallholder Credits, a mechanism designed to provide financial incentives to certified farmers. However, the system does not sufficiently deliver the desired results: while the number of certified independent smallholders is growing rapidly, the purchase of their corresponding credits is declining.
Leegwater expresses concern: “The lack of uptake of Independent smallholder credits is part of a bigger problem, where smallholder realities are insufficiently taken into account by end-users of palm oil. The lack of uptake of credits exemplifies this problem. The number of smallholders achieving RSPO certification over the last year was impressive. It is quite frustrating to see that their certificates are not being bought now. We call upon all buyers to urgently look into the options they have to buy these credits for a fair price.”
Value of credits traded for Certified Sustainable Palm Oil (CSPO) and Certified Sustainable Palm Kernal Oil (CSPKO) in USD (source: RSPO Impact Update Report 2025)
The Path to Sustainable Palm Oil Value Chains Must Be Inclusive
In May, Solidaridad published the global Palm Oil Barometer, laying down recommendations on how to do this. The report maps the smallholder situation and gives recommendations for companies to ensure more smallholder-inclusive sourcing.
The core question, according to Seijas, remains: “ It is not ‘How many producers can we certify?’ but rather ‘How do we generate sustainable incentives that match the tremendous effort of smallholders?’ The answer starts with buyers closing the loop.”
For more information or interviews, please contact Solidaridad’s press officer Bram Verkerke: [email protected] or call +31 6 296 01233.
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November 02, 2025
Indonesia, US to resume tariff talks in November
Indonesia and the United States are set to restart negotiations over a reciprocal tariff deal in November after a delay caused by the recent U.S. government shutdown.
Coordinating Economic Minister Airlangga Hartarto confirmed that most issues had been settled, with only legal drafting still under discussion.
The next round of talks is expected to take place after the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in South Korea, where the Presidents of both countries are attending.
A major point of discussion is the list of commodities exempted from tariffs. Airlangga said Indonesia could receive terms similar to those for Malaysia in its recent agreement with the U.S., including zero tariffs on products the U.S. does not produce domestically, such as palm oil, cocoa, and rubber. Indonesia has also requested exemptions for medical supply chain goods and other key industries.
The proposed tariff framework outlines a 19% duty on Indonesian exports to the U.S., a 99% tariff elimination for U.S. goods entering Indonesia, and additional trade concessions. Both countries have expressed confidence that the upcoming round of talks will lead to a final agreement. The InvestorVN
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National Confectioners Association welcomes cocoa and palm oil deals with Malaysia and Cambodia
The National Confectioners Association (NCA) has welcomed an agreement that will exempt Malaysian and Cambodian cocoa and palm oil products from tariffs that had applied to imports from the region, writes Neill Barston.
Notably, the US had placed a 19% tax rate on the two countries – impacting negatively on confectionery companies attempting to source key cocoa ingredients that are not grown commercially in the US.
This led to companies such as Hershey recently unsuccessfully lobbying the White House for exemptions for its supply chains -which presently include core producing nations of Ghana and Ivory Coast.
However, the NCA has welcomed the latest development from the Trump administration – which according to regional reports, made the the strategic move to exempt cocoa and palm oil, in return for relaxing an export ban on rare earth minerals. This, according to market observers, had been to counter Chinese activity in the region – with the Asian powerhouse seeking to establish its own major deals with the Malaysia government.
In response to the exclusion of Malaysian and Cambodian cocoa and palm oil inputs from IEEPA import tariffs, the NCA expressed hope that similar deals could be struck with other key cocoa producing nations.
In a statement, the NCA said: “Cocoa is the foundation of America’s chocolate industry, an industry that fuels growth, innovation, and joy across the nation. By excluding critical cocoa and chocolate inputs from Malaysia and Cambodia from IEEPA tariffs, the Trump Administration is taking steps to ensure that U.S. chocolate manufacturing remains competitive, prices remain stable, and “American families can continue to celebrate holidays like Halloween with affordable treats. Cocoa cannot be commercially grown in the United States, making the U.S. manufacturing sector entirely reliant on imported cocoa inputs, so we are very encouraged by tariff exemptions included in these finalised trade deals. We encourage the Administration to swiftly build on this progress by concluding negotiations with other major cocoa and palm trading partners around the world.” Confectionery Production
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Malaysia defends palm oil industry's role in orangutan conservation
TAIPING: Malaysia remains committed to striking a balance between environmental protection and sustainable development, particularly in the conservation of orangutans and the management of its palm oil industry.
Plantation and Commodities Ministry secretary-general Datuk Yusran Shah Mohd Yusof said that, globally, orangutans were often used as symbols in environmental campaigns by groups seeking to portray the palm oil industry as the main driver of deforestation.
"In reality, Malaysia has long implemented various sustainable policies and standards, such as the Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) Certification, which mandates the protection of High Conservation Value (HCV) areas, regulates forest clearing, and promotes the restoration of wildlife corridors.
"We do not dismiss concerns about the fate of orangutans, but this biased narrative must be corrected," he said.
Yusran Shah, who is also Malaysian Palm Oil Green Conservation Foundation (MPOGCF) Board of Trustees chairman said this in his speech during the World Orangutan Day celebration at Zoo Taiping and Night Safari today.
He added that statistics showed more than 50 per cent of orangutan habitats in Sabah and Sarawak were now located within protected areas, with a significant portion of conservation funding coming directly from the palm oil industry itself through initiatives such as MPOGCF, Sawit Kinabalu, and other local companies.
"The celebration of World Orangutan Day is not merely symbolic, but a reaffirmation of Malaysia's commitment to maintaining a balance between economic progress and biodiversity conservation.
"The orangutan should not be used as a tool to attack the palm oil industry; rather, it serves as evidence that a sustainable palm oil sector can be a strategic partner in environmental protection," he said.
Yusran Shah said MPOGCF, as a trust entity under the ministry, played a vital role in aligning the palm oil sector with conservation goals.
"This approach not only protects the image of Malaysian palm oil but also demonstrates that economic prosperity and environmental sustainability can advance together.
"I would also like to commend Zoo Taiping and Night Safari for their success in integrating education, tourism, and conservation. This collaboration should serve as an example for other agencies and organisations in promoting empathy and appreciation for wildlife," he added. NST
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Malaysian Strengthens Commitment To Sustainability, Wildlife Conservation
TAIPING, Nov 1 (Bernama) -- Malaysia has long implemented various sustainability policies and standards, including the Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) Certification, which mandates the protection of High Conservation Value (HCV) areas, regulates forest clearance and supports the restoration of wildlife corridors.
Ministry of Plantations and Commodities Secretary-General Datuk Yusran Shah Mohd Yusof said that the commonly used “orangutan narrative” in global environmental campaigns, often portraying the palm oil industry as the main cause of forest destruction, is misleading and needs to be corrected.
"Statistics show that more than 50 per cent of orangutan habitat in Sabah and Sarawak is now in protected areas. In fact, a large portion of conservation funding comes directly from the palm oil industry itself through initiatives such as the Malaysian Palm Oil Green Conservation Foundation (MPOGCF), Sawit Kinabalu and other local companies.
"Orangutans should not be used as a tool to attack the oil palm industry. On the contrary, there is evidence that a sustainable palm oil sector can serve as a strategic partner in environmental conservation, " he said when opening the 2025 World Orangutan Day at the Taiping Zoo & Night Safari here today.
Yusran Shah, who is also MPOGCF Board of Trustees chairman, emphasised that the annual World Orangutan Day celebration is more than a symbolic gesture, but also reflects Malaysia’s genuine commitment to achieving a balance between economic growth and biodiversity conservation.
He said that MPOGCF, as a trust entity under the ministry, plays an important role in aligning the palm oil sector with the national and global conservation goals.
“This approach not only protects the image of the country’s palm oil, but also proves that economic prosperity and environmental sustainability can go hand in hand,” he added.
He said, although World Orangutan Day is officially observed on Aug 19, this year’s celebration was held today due to logistical constraints.
Yusran Shah said hosting the event in Peninsular Malaysia, despite orangutans being native only to Sabah and Sarawak, helps foster a sense of shared responsibility among all Malaysians.
“Orangutan conservation is not the responsibility of Sabah or Sarawak alone, but a duty shared by every Malaysian,” he said.
This year saw the first-ever collaboration between MPOGCF and Taiping Zoo & Night Safari, a venue well known for its wildlife conservation efforts.
The celebration featured exhibitions from key partners, including the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB), Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC), the Department of Wildlife Conservation and National Parks (PERHILITAN), Wildlife Rescue Unit (WRU), Sawit Kinabalu, Bukit Merah Orang Utan Island Foundation and FELDA. Bernama
Indonesia, US to resume tariff talks in November
Indonesia and the United States are set to restart negotiations over a reciprocal tariff deal in November after a delay caused by the recent U.S. government shutdown.
Coordinating Economic Minister Airlangga Hartarto confirmed that most issues had been settled, with only legal drafting still under discussion.
The next round of talks is expected to take place after the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in South Korea, where the Presidents of both countries are attending.
A major point of discussion is the list of commodities exempted from tariffs. Airlangga said Indonesia could receive terms similar to those for Malaysia in its recent agreement with the U.S., including zero tariffs on products the U.S. does not produce domestically, such as palm oil, cocoa, and rubber. Indonesia has also requested exemptions for medical supply chain goods and other key industries.
The proposed tariff framework outlines a 19% duty on Indonesian exports to the U.S., a 99% tariff elimination for U.S. goods entering Indonesia, and additional trade concessions. Both countries have expressed confidence that the upcoming round of talks will lead to a final agreement. The InvestorVN
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National Confectioners Association welcomes cocoa and palm oil deals with Malaysia and Cambodia
The National Confectioners Association (NCA) has welcomed an agreement that will exempt Malaysian and Cambodian cocoa and palm oil products from tariffs that had applied to imports from the region, writes Neill Barston.
Notably, the US had placed a 19% tax rate on the two countries – impacting negatively on confectionery companies attempting to source key cocoa ingredients that are not grown commercially in the US.
This led to companies such as Hershey recently unsuccessfully lobbying the White House for exemptions for its supply chains -which presently include core producing nations of Ghana and Ivory Coast.
However, the NCA has welcomed the latest development from the Trump administration – which according to regional reports, made the the strategic move to exempt cocoa and palm oil, in return for relaxing an export ban on rare earth minerals. This, according to market observers, had been to counter Chinese activity in the region – with the Asian powerhouse seeking to establish its own major deals with the Malaysia government.
In response to the exclusion of Malaysian and Cambodian cocoa and palm oil inputs from IEEPA import tariffs, the NCA expressed hope that similar deals could be struck with other key cocoa producing nations.
In a statement, the NCA said: “Cocoa is the foundation of America’s chocolate industry, an industry that fuels growth, innovation, and joy across the nation. By excluding critical cocoa and chocolate inputs from Malaysia and Cambodia from IEEPA tariffs, the Trump Administration is taking steps to ensure that U.S. chocolate manufacturing remains competitive, prices remain stable, and “American families can continue to celebrate holidays like Halloween with affordable treats. Cocoa cannot be commercially grown in the United States, making the U.S. manufacturing sector entirely reliant on imported cocoa inputs, so we are very encouraged by tariff exemptions included in these finalised trade deals. We encourage the Administration to swiftly build on this progress by concluding negotiations with other major cocoa and palm trading partners around the world.” Confectionery Production
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Malaysia defends palm oil industry's role in orangutan conservation
TAIPING: Malaysia remains committed to striking a balance between environmental protection and sustainable development, particularly in the conservation of orangutans and the management of its palm oil industry.
Plantation and Commodities Ministry secretary-general Datuk Yusran Shah Mohd Yusof said that, globally, orangutans were often used as symbols in environmental campaigns by groups seeking to portray the palm oil industry as the main driver of deforestation.
"In reality, Malaysia has long implemented various sustainable policies and standards, such as the Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) Certification, which mandates the protection of High Conservation Value (HCV) areas, regulates forest clearing, and promotes the restoration of wildlife corridors.
"We do not dismiss concerns about the fate of orangutans, but this biased narrative must be corrected," he said.
Yusran Shah, who is also Malaysian Palm Oil Green Conservation Foundation (MPOGCF) Board of Trustees chairman said this in his speech during the World Orangutan Day celebration at Zoo Taiping and Night Safari today.
He added that statistics showed more than 50 per cent of orangutan habitats in Sabah and Sarawak were now located within protected areas, with a significant portion of conservation funding coming directly from the palm oil industry itself through initiatives such as MPOGCF, Sawit Kinabalu, and other local companies.
"The celebration of World Orangutan Day is not merely symbolic, but a reaffirmation of Malaysia's commitment to maintaining a balance between economic progress and biodiversity conservation.
"The orangutan should not be used as a tool to attack the palm oil industry; rather, it serves as evidence that a sustainable palm oil sector can be a strategic partner in environmental protection," he said.
Yusran Shah said MPOGCF, as a trust entity under the ministry, played a vital role in aligning the palm oil sector with conservation goals.
"This approach not only protects the image of Malaysian palm oil but also demonstrates that economic prosperity and environmental sustainability can advance together.
"I would also like to commend Zoo Taiping and Night Safari for their success in integrating education, tourism, and conservation. This collaboration should serve as an example for other agencies and organisations in promoting empathy and appreciation for wildlife," he added. NST
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Malaysian Strengthens Commitment To Sustainability, Wildlife Conservation
TAIPING, Nov 1 (Bernama) -- Malaysia has long implemented various sustainability policies and standards, including the Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) Certification, which mandates the protection of High Conservation Value (HCV) areas, regulates forest clearance and supports the restoration of wildlife corridors.
Ministry of Plantations and Commodities Secretary-General Datuk Yusran Shah Mohd Yusof said that the commonly used “orangutan narrative” in global environmental campaigns, often portraying the palm oil industry as the main cause of forest destruction, is misleading and needs to be corrected.
"Statistics show that more than 50 per cent of orangutan habitat in Sabah and Sarawak is now in protected areas. In fact, a large portion of conservation funding comes directly from the palm oil industry itself through initiatives such as the Malaysian Palm Oil Green Conservation Foundation (MPOGCF), Sawit Kinabalu and other local companies.
"Orangutans should not be used as a tool to attack the oil palm industry. On the contrary, there is evidence that a sustainable palm oil sector can serve as a strategic partner in environmental conservation, " he said when opening the 2025 World Orangutan Day at the Taiping Zoo & Night Safari here today.
Yusran Shah, who is also MPOGCF Board of Trustees chairman, emphasised that the annual World Orangutan Day celebration is more than a symbolic gesture, but also reflects Malaysia’s genuine commitment to achieving a balance between economic growth and biodiversity conservation.
He said that MPOGCF, as a trust entity under the ministry, plays an important role in aligning the palm oil sector with the national and global conservation goals.
“This approach not only protects the image of the country’s palm oil, but also proves that economic prosperity and environmental sustainability can go hand in hand,” he added.
He said, although World Orangutan Day is officially observed on Aug 19, this year’s celebration was held today due to logistical constraints.
Yusran Shah said hosting the event in Peninsular Malaysia, despite orangutans being native only to Sabah and Sarawak, helps foster a sense of shared responsibility among all Malaysians.
“Orangutan conservation is not the responsibility of Sabah or Sarawak alone, but a duty shared by every Malaysian,” he said.
This year saw the first-ever collaboration between MPOGCF and Taiping Zoo & Night Safari, a venue well known for its wildlife conservation efforts.
The celebration featured exhibitions from key partners, including the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB), Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC), the Department of Wildlife Conservation and National Parks (PERHILITAN), Wildlife Rescue Unit (WRU), Sawit Kinabalu, Bukit Merah Orang Utan Island Foundation and FELDA. Bernama
November 01, 2025
Malaysia’s successful negotiation with the US should serve as a model for Indonesia, Analyst Says
Jakarta. Indonesia must strengthen its bargaining position to push the United States into lowering its import tariff on palm oil to zero percent, mirroring the deal Washington recently struck with Malaysia, according to the Center of Economic and Law Studies (Celios).
Celios Executive Director Bhima Yudhistira Adhinegara said Malaysia’s successful negotiation with the US should serve as a model for Indonesia.
“Looking at the palm oil issue, Malaysia can get a zero percent tariff, meaning Indonesia should leverage its bargaining power more effectively,” Bhima said on Friday.
Earlier this week, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and US President Donald Trump signed a trade pact that maintained a 19 percent general tariff rate on Malaysian goods but granted zero tariffs for key commodities such as palm oil, cocoa, and rubber, all of which are also Indonesia’s main export products to the US. Jakarta Globe
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Indonesian President Prabowo confirms ongoing Indonesia-US zero-tariff talks
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia's President Prabowo Subianto has confirmed that negotiations with the United States on zero-percent import tariffs remain ongoing.
"Yes, negotiations are still ongoing," he said on the sidelines of the 2025 APEC Summit in Gyeongju, South Korea, on Friday.
The discussions aim to expand bilateral trade cooperation, particularly in Indonesia's leading export commodities.
On the same occasion, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto said that further talks with the US would continue after the summit.
He explained that the commodities proposed for zero-percent tariffs are similar to those agreed with Malaysia, such as palm oil, cocoa, rubber, and several other goods not produced in the US.
Hartarto noted that discussions on critical minerals are being conducted separately.
"Critical minerals are being discussed separately, related to the supply chain," he said. "In the joint statement, we refer to them as industrial communities."
Indonesia is seeking to lower tariffs on palm oil exports to zero percent, similar to Malaysia's agreement with the US.
"This (palm oil tariff negotiation) is still in progress. Hopefully, in the discussions, we can at least be on par with Malaysia," said Acting Director General of Agro-Industry Putu Juli Ardika on October 29.
He referred to Malaysia's success in lowering US import tariffs from 25 percent to 19 percent under its newly signed reciprocal tariff agreement with Washington.
Malaysian key products, including palm oil, rubber, wood products, aviation components, and pharmaceuticals, were either exempted from or reduced to zero-percent tariffs by the US. Antara News
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ILO launches grievance apps for Indonesian workers
Digital platforms now allow workers to submit grievances with evidence, receive follow-up recommendations and improve industrial relations across multiple sectors.
JAKARTA, Indonesia (ILO News) – The International Labour Organization (ILO), in close collaboration with five trade union confederations, one trade union network and 14 trade union federations, officially launched a suite of upgraded grievance applications aimed at improving workplace conditions and empowering workers in Indonesia’s garment, footwear and palm oil sectors. The launch, held in Jakarta on 29 October, marks a significant advancement in the ILO’s ongoing efforts to promote decent work and strengthen industrial relations across key industries.
These digital tools were developed under the ILO’s Realizing Trade Gains Free from Gender Discrimination and Child Labour (RealGains) project, funded by the Government of Canada. They build upon the previous work of another ILO project title Strengthening Industrial Relations in Indonesia (SIRI), supported by the same donor, and leverage technology to address systemic labour challenges.
The initiative was carried out in partnership with the National Trade Union (SPN), the Garment and Textile Trade Union Federation (Garteks), the Textile, Garment and Leather Trade Union Federation (FSP-TSK), and the Trade Union Network for Palm Oil (JAPBUSI), a coalition of 11 federations representing more than 100,000 workers nationwide. ILO
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RSPO Board of Governors Endorses Proposal to Form Executive Committee for Operational Oversight
RSPO BoG reached a consensus to propose amendments to the RSPO Statutes aimed at strengthening governance by introducing a new Executive Committee (ExCo).
Following the RSPO Board of Governors (BoG) meeting on 9 September 2025, consensus was reached on proposed amendments to the RSPO Statutes to introduce a new Executive Committee (ExCo) to RSPO’s current governance structure. This milestone reflects RSPO’s continued growth in both scale and operational complexity.
Previously, the BoG had fulfilled a dual role: setting RSPO’s strategic direction through a multi-stakeholder consensus approach, and overseeing the operational performance of the RSPO Secretariat. Under the proposed resolutions, the establishment of the ExCo will assume operational management oversight, to be carried out by specialised experts in key areas of RSPO’s work, including finance, human resources, technology and digital transformation.
Reporting to the BoG, the ExCo’s provenance will include budget approvals, risk monitoring, and performance oversight of the Secretariat. The proposed committee will be composed of an independent chair and a majority of independent members selected for their tailored expertise. This addition enhances governance capacity while maintaining the BoG’s focus on high-level strategy and long-term priorities, establishing a clear separation of roles. The BoG will approve policy amendments and developments, establish and appoint committees, as well as approve new projects or initiatives proposed by the Standing Committees. Additionally, the BoG will endorse the annual budget prior to each fiscal year, as approved by the ExCO.
Two Resolutions on the Table
Two new General Assembly (GA) resolutions are tabled for voting by the RSPO membership to formalise the proposed amendments during the 22nd GA in Kuala Lumpur on 5 November 2025: Read more RSPO
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SBTi moves to delay deadline for deforestation-free supply chains
Stemming the deforestation caused by global demand for a small group of commodities has proved more challenging than expected.
Key Takeaways:
Companies have until November 6 to weigh in on changes to the Science Based Target initiative’s Forest, Land and Agriculture (FLAG) Guidance. Proposed revisions include pushing back the final deadline for companies to eliminate deforestation to supply chains to 2030. Current guidelines have a December 2025 date, which stakeholders acknowledge companies will not be able to meet.
“To keep the standard relevant and used, we need to revisit the target year and figure out what to do to keep the momentum going,” said Martha Stevenson, a senior director on the forest team at the nonprofit WWF-US and a member of the expert group advising the initiative on the guidelines
“These deforestation commitments started in 2010; we would have loved to have had action much, much earlier than this,” she added. “No one’s happy about rolling these dates back.”
Stevenson, who led the creation of the first set of FLAG guidelines, said the 2025 deadline has proved unworkable because of international demand for the small group of commodities that drive deforestation — including beef, soy and palm oil — as well as domestic trade in forest countries for those products. Land speculation and ownership rights have also proved difficult to address.
Key commodities Trellis
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'Orangutans should not be used as symbol to attack palm sector'
TAIPING: Orangutan is often misguidedly used as a symbol in environmental campaigns to portray the palm oil industry as the main cause of deforestation, says Plantation and Commodities Ministry Secretary-General Datuk Yusran Shah Mohd Yusof.
Despite not rejecting the concern shown towards the plight of orangutans, he said the biased narrative surrounding it needs to be corrected.
"The orangutan should not be used as a tool to attack the palm sector. Instead, it stands as proof that a sustainable palm oil industry can be a strategic partner in protecting the environment,” he said in his speech during the World Orangutan Day 2025 celebrations at Pavilion Taiping Zoo and Night Safari today (Nov 1).
The chairman of the Malaysian Palm Oil Green Conservation Foundation (MPOGCF) Board of Trustees said the celebration of World Orangutan Day is not merely a symbolic event, but a statement of Malaysia’s commitment to striking a balance between economic development and biodiversity conservation. The StarMY
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For the first time in 36 years, Samyang Foods has decided to release ramen using beef fat
For the first time in 36 years, Samyang Foods has decided to release ramen using '牛脂, beef oil'. In the history of ramen noodles in Korea, the "Woozi wave" is an event that once shook the existence of a company.
The fact that Samyang Foods, which suffered such a Uji wave, brought Uji back out does not just mean the product launch. It is read as a strong will to overcome the painful history of the past and a strong confidence in the brand with the current spicy stir-fried chicken noodles.
Samyang Foods will hold a presentation on the 3rd to announce the launch of "Samyang Ramen 1963," a Uji ramen. Woozi means cow oil at this time. In other words, it is 'Woozi Ramen' using Woozi as oil to fry the noodles of ramen.
Three major ramen companies, including Nongshim, Ottogi, and Samyang Foods, are currently making and selling only palm oil ramen. It is fried noodles with palm oil, a vegetable oil. Therefore, when Samyang Foods launches "Samyang Ramen 1963," it is expected to be the only Woozi Ramen in the industry.
Woozi Ramen basically boasts a savory flavor. This is because Woozi is rich in animal fat, so when heat is applied, it can create a unique flavor. Maeil Business
Malaysia’s successful negotiation with the US should serve as a model for Indonesia, Analyst Says
Jakarta. Indonesia must strengthen its bargaining position to push the United States into lowering its import tariff on palm oil to zero percent, mirroring the deal Washington recently struck with Malaysia, according to the Center of Economic and Law Studies (Celios).
Celios Executive Director Bhima Yudhistira Adhinegara said Malaysia’s successful negotiation with the US should serve as a model for Indonesia.
“Looking at the palm oil issue, Malaysia can get a zero percent tariff, meaning Indonesia should leverage its bargaining power more effectively,” Bhima said on Friday.
Earlier this week, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and US President Donald Trump signed a trade pact that maintained a 19 percent general tariff rate on Malaysian goods but granted zero tariffs for key commodities such as palm oil, cocoa, and rubber, all of which are also Indonesia’s main export products to the US. Jakarta Globe
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Indonesian President Prabowo confirms ongoing Indonesia-US zero-tariff talks
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia's President Prabowo Subianto has confirmed that negotiations with the United States on zero-percent import tariffs remain ongoing.
"Yes, negotiations are still ongoing," he said on the sidelines of the 2025 APEC Summit in Gyeongju, South Korea, on Friday.
The discussions aim to expand bilateral trade cooperation, particularly in Indonesia's leading export commodities.
On the same occasion, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto said that further talks with the US would continue after the summit.
He explained that the commodities proposed for zero-percent tariffs are similar to those agreed with Malaysia, such as palm oil, cocoa, rubber, and several other goods not produced in the US.
Hartarto noted that discussions on critical minerals are being conducted separately.
"Critical minerals are being discussed separately, related to the supply chain," he said. "In the joint statement, we refer to them as industrial communities."
Indonesia is seeking to lower tariffs on palm oil exports to zero percent, similar to Malaysia's agreement with the US.
"This (palm oil tariff negotiation) is still in progress. Hopefully, in the discussions, we can at least be on par with Malaysia," said Acting Director General of Agro-Industry Putu Juli Ardika on October 29.
He referred to Malaysia's success in lowering US import tariffs from 25 percent to 19 percent under its newly signed reciprocal tariff agreement with Washington.
Malaysian key products, including palm oil, rubber, wood products, aviation components, and pharmaceuticals, were either exempted from or reduced to zero-percent tariffs by the US. Antara News
--------
ILO launches grievance apps for Indonesian workers
Digital platforms now allow workers to submit grievances with evidence, receive follow-up recommendations and improve industrial relations across multiple sectors.
JAKARTA, Indonesia (ILO News) – The International Labour Organization (ILO), in close collaboration with five trade union confederations, one trade union network and 14 trade union federations, officially launched a suite of upgraded grievance applications aimed at improving workplace conditions and empowering workers in Indonesia’s garment, footwear and palm oil sectors. The launch, held in Jakarta on 29 October, marks a significant advancement in the ILO’s ongoing efforts to promote decent work and strengthen industrial relations across key industries.
These digital tools were developed under the ILO’s Realizing Trade Gains Free from Gender Discrimination and Child Labour (RealGains) project, funded by the Government of Canada. They build upon the previous work of another ILO project title Strengthening Industrial Relations in Indonesia (SIRI), supported by the same donor, and leverage technology to address systemic labour challenges.
The initiative was carried out in partnership with the National Trade Union (SPN), the Garment and Textile Trade Union Federation (Garteks), the Textile, Garment and Leather Trade Union Federation (FSP-TSK), and the Trade Union Network for Palm Oil (JAPBUSI), a coalition of 11 federations representing more than 100,000 workers nationwide. ILO
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RSPO Board of Governors Endorses Proposal to Form Executive Committee for Operational Oversight
RSPO BoG reached a consensus to propose amendments to the RSPO Statutes aimed at strengthening governance by introducing a new Executive Committee (ExCo).
Following the RSPO Board of Governors (BoG) meeting on 9 September 2025, consensus was reached on proposed amendments to the RSPO Statutes to introduce a new Executive Committee (ExCo) to RSPO’s current governance structure. This milestone reflects RSPO’s continued growth in both scale and operational complexity.
Previously, the BoG had fulfilled a dual role: setting RSPO’s strategic direction through a multi-stakeholder consensus approach, and overseeing the operational performance of the RSPO Secretariat. Under the proposed resolutions, the establishment of the ExCo will assume operational management oversight, to be carried out by specialised experts in key areas of RSPO’s work, including finance, human resources, technology and digital transformation.
Reporting to the BoG, the ExCo’s provenance will include budget approvals, risk monitoring, and performance oversight of the Secretariat. The proposed committee will be composed of an independent chair and a majority of independent members selected for their tailored expertise. This addition enhances governance capacity while maintaining the BoG’s focus on high-level strategy and long-term priorities, establishing a clear separation of roles. The BoG will approve policy amendments and developments, establish and appoint committees, as well as approve new projects or initiatives proposed by the Standing Committees. Additionally, the BoG will endorse the annual budget prior to each fiscal year, as approved by the ExCO.
Two Resolutions on the Table
Two new General Assembly (GA) resolutions are tabled for voting by the RSPO membership to formalise the proposed amendments during the 22nd GA in Kuala Lumpur on 5 November 2025: Read more RSPO
--------
SBTi moves to delay deadline for deforestation-free supply chains
Stemming the deforestation caused by global demand for a small group of commodities has proved more challenging than expected.
Key Takeaways:
- Proposed new guidance from the Science Based Target initiative requires deforestation-free supply chains by 2030.
- The move would align the standard with the E.U.’s incoming Regulation on Deforestation-free Products.
- Companies have until November 6 to weigh in on the proposal.
Companies have until November 6 to weigh in on changes to the Science Based Target initiative’s Forest, Land and Agriculture (FLAG) Guidance. Proposed revisions include pushing back the final deadline for companies to eliminate deforestation to supply chains to 2030. Current guidelines have a December 2025 date, which stakeholders acknowledge companies will not be able to meet.
“To keep the standard relevant and used, we need to revisit the target year and figure out what to do to keep the momentum going,” said Martha Stevenson, a senior director on the forest team at the nonprofit WWF-US and a member of the expert group advising the initiative on the guidelines
“These deforestation commitments started in 2010; we would have loved to have had action much, much earlier than this,” she added. “No one’s happy about rolling these dates back.”
Stevenson, who led the creation of the first set of FLAG guidelines, said the 2025 deadline has proved unworkable because of international demand for the small group of commodities that drive deforestation — including beef, soy and palm oil — as well as domestic trade in forest countries for those products. Land speculation and ownership rights have also proved difficult to address.
Key commodities Trellis
--------
'Orangutans should not be used as symbol to attack palm sector'
TAIPING: Orangutan is often misguidedly used as a symbol in environmental campaigns to portray the palm oil industry as the main cause of deforestation, says Plantation and Commodities Ministry Secretary-General Datuk Yusran Shah Mohd Yusof.
Despite not rejecting the concern shown towards the plight of orangutans, he said the biased narrative surrounding it needs to be corrected.
"The orangutan should not be used as a tool to attack the palm sector. Instead, it stands as proof that a sustainable palm oil industry can be a strategic partner in protecting the environment,” he said in his speech during the World Orangutan Day 2025 celebrations at Pavilion Taiping Zoo and Night Safari today (Nov 1).
The chairman of the Malaysian Palm Oil Green Conservation Foundation (MPOGCF) Board of Trustees said the celebration of World Orangutan Day is not merely a symbolic event, but a statement of Malaysia’s commitment to striking a balance between economic development and biodiversity conservation. The StarMY
--------
For the first time in 36 years, Samyang Foods has decided to release ramen using beef fat
For the first time in 36 years, Samyang Foods has decided to release ramen using '牛脂, beef oil'. In the history of ramen noodles in Korea, the "Woozi wave" is an event that once shook the existence of a company.
The fact that Samyang Foods, which suffered such a Uji wave, brought Uji back out does not just mean the product launch. It is read as a strong will to overcome the painful history of the past and a strong confidence in the brand with the current spicy stir-fried chicken noodles.
Samyang Foods will hold a presentation on the 3rd to announce the launch of "Samyang Ramen 1963," a Uji ramen. Woozi means cow oil at this time. In other words, it is 'Woozi Ramen' using Woozi as oil to fry the noodles of ramen.
Three major ramen companies, including Nongshim, Ottogi, and Samyang Foods, are currently making and selling only palm oil ramen. It is fried noodles with palm oil, a vegetable oil. Therefore, when Samyang Foods launches "Samyang Ramen 1963," it is expected to be the only Woozi Ramen in the industry.
Woozi Ramen basically boasts a savory flavor. This is because Woozi is rich in animal fat, so when heat is applied, it can create a unique flavor. Maeil Business
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