Malaysia works to regain palm oil market share in China

Malaysia’s palm oil exports to China fell by nearly 39% in the first ten months of the year due to logistics challenges and pricing pressures. The information was released by Malaysia’s Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani, who emphasized that the situation requires urgent attention from both the government and industry stakeholders.

According to the minister, part of the decline is linked to rising palm oil prices, which have surpassed those of soybean oil — making soybean oil a more attractive option for Chinese importers. This shift has altered the demand balance and increased the competitiveness of alternative vegetable oils in the Chinese market.

He noted that China has remained one of Malaysia’s key and strategic export destinations for more than a decade. However, the sharp decrease in shipments indicates deeper challenges related not only to competitiveness and logistics but also to pricing strategy and market positioning.

The minister added that Malaysia will continue to maintain transparent and predictable export policies in order to safeguard the interests of its major trading partners. He also stressed that Malaysia welcomes ongoing dialogue with China to align expectations regarding pricing trends, market developments, and long-term supply planning.

Tags: China, Malaysia, palm oil