Malaysia considers palm kernel cake to reduce reliance on imported animal-feed materials
Malaysia is considering wider use of palm kernel cake in livestock feed to strengthen domestic supply chains and reduce reliance on imported raw materials. The government is also assessing quality, food-safety and formulation requirements while preparing the Muda agricultural region for El Niño.
Government examines a domestic feed ingredient
Malaysia is considering a broader and more systematic role for palm kernel cake, or PKC, in animal-feed production as it seeks to reduce dependence on imported raw materials. The proposal was among the main items discussed by the Executive Committee on National Food Security Policy at its second meeting of 2026, according to Harapan Daily.
The meeting at the Malaysian Parliament was jointly chaired by Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu and Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Amar Fadillah Yusof. It examined the future direction for using PKC as a feed ingredient and the wider role of domestic resources in Malaysia’s agricultural and food supply chains.
PKC is a byproduct of the palm oil industry that can be incorporated into livestock-feed formulations. More structured use could give feed manufacturers and livestock producers another domestic ingredient at a time when global feed prices and availability remain uncertain. The source did not specify targeted volumes, implementation dates or the share of imports that PKC could replace.
Feed costs link palm oil to livestock production
Feed is a major component of livestock production costs. Expanding the use of locally available materials could therefore make Malaysia’s feed supply chain more resilient, although the commercial effect will depend on processing requirements, nutritional performance, consistent availability and the price of PKC relative to imported alternatives.
The policy has implications beyond the palm oil sector. Stable feed production supports the supply of chicken, eggs, meat and other livestock products. Wider PKC use could create an additional outlet for palm-industry residues while giving livestock businesses another option when imported feed materials become expensive or difficult to obtain.
The government also needs to address quality, food safety and formulation suitability before wider adoption, Harapan Daily reported. PKC must be incorporated without weakening livestock productivity. This makes feed testing, nutritional specifications and coordination among palm processors, feed manufacturers and livestock producers central to any eventual rollout.
El Niño planning broadens the food-security agenda
The same committee meeting reviewed preparations by the Muda Agricultural Development Authority, known as MADA, for El Niño conditions in the Muda area. Hot and dry weather could put pressure on water supplies and crop output, particularly rice, which is one of Malaysia’s principal food-security commodities.
Mohamad Sabu said food security should be considered across the entire production system rather than only in terms of agricultural output. Farmers and livestock producers also require access to the inputs and institutional support needed to maintain production. He called for stronger cooperation among ministries and government agencies to protect food supplies and improve the use of domestic resources.
The PKC proposal and El Niño preparations address different risks but share the same policy objective: reducing vulnerabilities from inputs through final food production. For industry participants, the next significant details will be the technical standards, eligible feed formulations, supply arrangements and incentives that determine whether palm kernel cake can compete consistently with imported materials.