KUALA LUMPUR (July 15): Malaysia has secured over RM230 million in palm oil trade deals from Deputy Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Chan Foong Hin’s recent working visit to China.

In a statement on Monday, the Ministry of Plantation and Commodities said Chan’s visit from July 8 to 12 to promote Malaysian agri-commodities in China had resulted in the signing of four memoranda of understanding (MOUs).

“The four MOUs were signed between Malaysian palm oil companies and businesses in China at the 15th China International Cereals and Oils Industry Summit in Nanjing on July 11,” the ministry said.

It said the four MOUs signed were between Kuala Lumpur Kepong Bhd (KL:KLK) and BOCE Trade Service Co Ltd for tocotrienol exports; between Taobao (China) Software Co Ltd and Able Perfect Group for expanding digital market access; between Taobao (China) Software Co Ltd and Sawit Kinabalu Group for crude palm oil trade; and between JF Nutritech and Palmort Food Tech (Shanghai) for the application of red palm oil in animal feed.

Chan witnessed the MOU signing ceremony, together with Malaysian Palm Oil Board director general Datuk Ahmad Parveez Ghulam Kadir and China Chamber of Commerce for Import/Export of Foodstuffs, Native Produce, and Animal By-products president Cao De Rong.

The minister noted that Able Perfect, an independent palm oil refinery based in Port Klang, aims to expand its presence in the Chinese market, particularly in refined palm oil and palm shortening, with an estimated business volume of about RM200 million via the trade deal with Taobao.

All in all, Chan highlighted that the four MOUs involve expanding the trade of palm oil products into new sectors, including leveraging the globally renowned e-commerce platform of Taobao to develop online business-to-business and business-to-consumer sales channels, and entering the health product market with tocotrienols, a potent form of vitamin E derived from palm oil.

“Malaysian companies must focus on high-value-added and high-quality production to remain competitive in the global market.

“With Malaysia’s annual palm oil production maintained at around 18 million tonnes, it is crucial to adhere to the standards of the European Union Deforestation Regulation and sustainable development principles,” he said.

Additionally, Chan said that Chinese authorities had approved the export and use of palm tocotrienols in food applications in March this year.

According to the statement, the overall value of the trade deals is expected to increase in the coming years.

During the working visit, Chan also held a business matching session with around 20 Malaysian and Chinese enterprises, providing a platform for exchange and exploring cooperation opportunities in the palm oil trade.

These initiatives will further deepen bilateral cooperation in the palm oil sector, promoting mutual economic prosperity and win-win outcomes for Malaysia and China, he added.