‘Malaysia needs to invest in, generate more value-added palm oil products’

KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia needs to increase investments in downstream processing activities and shift towards generating more value-added palm oil products.

Plantation Industries and Commodities Ministry secretary-general Datuk Ravi Muthayah said the palm oil industry should move towards high value-added and not be risk-averse in business decisions as traders cannot depend solely on palm oil as a commodity 

“This is because palm oil is always subject to price volatility and uncertainties,” he said during the Malaysian Palm Oil Trade Fair and Seminar 2021 today.

With stricter global market requirements, he said it is important to strategically position palm oil, particularly in untapped markets and also some markets that have not heard about palm oil as an edible oil.

“To further promote our products as a sustainable and safe oil for consumption, we may want to venture into and explore non-traditional markets in the Middle East, Northern Africa and Eastern Europe, which remain largely untapped,” he said.

Nevertheless, Ravi said palm oil would continue to face challenges as long as there are other competing edible vegetable oils.

As such, he hoped market players would continuously engage themselves in dispelling misconceptions and disseminating true information about palm oil, in terms of its versatility, health aspects, economic contribution as well as worker’s rights.

“Workers rights are equally important and should not be taken lightly. This is important to ensure the palm oil industry is viewed as a responsible and caring industry,” he said.

Themed “Malaysian Palm Oil – Forging Ahead in the New Norm”, the four-day virtual event which starts today is organised by the Malaysian Palm Oil Council.

A total of 27 papers will be presented during the seminar, covering topics such as the current issues in the palm oil industry, market challenges and development, sustainability challenges, innovative applications in the industry, nutritional and dietary aspects, as well as market updates and price forecasts.  – Bernama, January 5, 2021