Malaysia sends minister-led palm oil trade mission to India as exports jump 40.4%

Malaysia will send an official trade mission to India from 27 September to 1 October 2026 to expand palm oil sales and open opportunities in higher-value palm-based products. The delegation is led by Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Dr Noraini Ahmad and coordinated by the Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC), DagangNews reported.

The visit comes as Malaysian shipments to India accelerate. MPOC Chief Executive Officer Belvinder Kaur Sron said palm oil exports to India rose 40.4% to 2.26 million tonnes in the first eight months of 2026, while Malaysia's share of India's palm oil imports increased to 39.2%.

A five-day mission across two cities

The programme covers Bengaluru and Mumbai. In Bengaluru, Noraini is scheduled to meet the leadership of the Karnataka state government along with major Indian food, consumer goods and agricultural technology companies. According to DagangNews, those talks will address palm oil supply, downstream products, sustainable sourcing, oil palm crop development and digital agriculture.

In Mumbai, the minister is due to deliver a keynote address at the Globoil India 2026 conference on 30 September, an event that gathers about 1,500 participants from across the global oils and fats value chain. She is also scheduled to meet senior officials of the Solvent Extractors' Association of India and other industry leaders to discuss market developments, supply requirements and opportunities for long-term cooperation.

India's reliance on palm oil

India has been Malaysia's largest palm oil export market for 13 consecutive years, Belvinder said. The trade relationship rests on a volume base that few other destinations match.

• 2025 exports to India: 2.94 million tonnes of palm oil and palm-based products, worth 14.15 billion ringgit
• Palm oil accounts for about 51% of India's total edible oil imports
• Palm oil covers 34% of India's total edible oil consumption
• January-August 2026 exports: 2.26 million tonnes, up 40.4% year on year
• Malaysia's share of Indian palm oil imports: 39.2%

Utusan Melayu Plus reported that palm oil makes up half of India's edible oil imports, making the commodity a critical component of the country's food security. Belvinder said the export increase reflects continued confidence among Indian buyers in the quality, supply reliability and sustainability credentials of Malaysian palm oil.

Downstream products in focus

Beyond bulk volumes, the mission will concentrate on new opportunities in downstream goods, including palm-based chemicals known as oleochemicals, specialty fats and other applications carrying higher value per tonne. MPOC said India remains central to the long-term market development strategy of the Malaysian palm oil industry, with bilateral trade continuing to show positive momentum.

The mission also aims to reinforce Malaysia's position as a sustainable and reliable supplier of palm oil and palm-based products, and to encourage broader cooperation between the governments and business sectors of both countries.

Expected outcomes

MPOC said the mission is expected to provide a clearer picture of India's expanding market requirements, strengthen business links between Malaysian and Indian companies, and create a basis for follow-up cooperation between Malaysian suppliers and Indian trading partners.

The Bengaluru leg pairs supply discussions with crop development and digital agriculture, indicating an agenda that extends past shipment volumes into technology and sourcing standards. The Mumbai leg puts Malaysian officials in front of the trade bodies and refiners that set India's purchasing patterns for the season ahead.