Kuala Lumpur, Sep 26: Malaysia’s Plantation and Commodities Minister Dr Noraini Ahmad will lead a five-day official mission to India from September 27 to October 1, with palm oil trade, sustainable sourcing and higher-value palm-based products at the centre of discussions aimed at expanding commercial cooperation between the two countries.
Coordinated by the Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC), the mission will cover Bengaluru and Mumbai and include meetings with government representatives, major companies, industry associations and technology providers. The programme will also seek to strengthen business links between Malaysian suppliers and Indian manufacturers.
India has remained Malaysia’s largest palm oil export market for 13 consecutive years. In 2025, Malaysia exported 2.94 million tonnes of palm oil and palm-based products to India, worth RM14.15 billion.
Palm oil accounts for about 51 per cent of India’s edible oil imports and 34 per cent of its overall edible oil consumption, making it the country’s leading edible oil and a significant component of its food supply.
MPOC Chief Executive Officer Belvinder Kaur Sron said Malaysian palm oil exports to India rose 40.4 per cent to 2.26 million tonnes during the first eight months of 2026. Malaysia’s share of India’s palm oil imports also increased to 39.2 per cent during the period.
According to Sron, the mission will build on the existing commercial relationship and examine opportunities in oleochemicals, specialty fats and other higher-value applications of palm-based products.
In Bengaluru, Noraini is scheduled to meet Karnataka government officials as well as leading Indian companies operating in food, consumer goods and agri-technology. Discussions will cover palm oil supplies, downstream applications, sustainable sourcing, oil palm development, digital agriculture and stronger connections between suppliers and manufacturers.
The Mumbai leg will include a keynote address by Noraini at Globoil India 2026 on September 30. The oils and fats industry conference is expected to bring together about 1,500 participants from across the global value chain.
She will also meet senior members of the Solvent Extractors’ Association of India and other industry leaders to discuss market developments, supply requirements and opportunities for longer-term cooperation.
The mission is intended to give Malaysian stakeholders greater insight into India’s changing market requirements while creating a basis for practical follow-up between businesses in both countries. The engagement also includes government-level discussions to support wider bilateral cooperation.
