Malaysia Targets Africa and Middle East as Palm Oil Exports Rise 8.2%
Malaysia is widening its palm oil market strategy as exports rose 8.2% to more than 10.4 million tonnes in the first eight months of 2026. Demand grew fastest in the Middle East and North Africa, while the country is expanding its commercial presence in Kenya, Nigeria and India.
Exports rise as Malaysia seeks a broader buyer base
Malaysia is stepping up efforts to diversify its palm oil markets after exports increased across several established and developing destinations. According to DagangNews, Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Dr Noraini Ahmad said exports rose 8.2% to more than 10.4 million tonnes during the first eight months of 2026. Crude palm oil production reached 12.6 million tonnes over the same period.
The figures reinforce the industry's dependence on overseas demand. More than 80% of Malaysian palm oil production is sold on world markets. Palm oil and palm-based product exports generated RM115 billion in 2025 and accounted for nearly 3% of Malaysia's gross domestic product, DagangNews reported. Diversification is therefore intended both to reduce exposure to individual markets and to introduce Malaysian palm products to a wider group of international consumers.
Middle East and Africa record stronger growth
The Middle East and North Africa delivered the fastest reported expansion. Malaysian exports to the region climbed about 23% in the first eight months of 2026 compared with the same period a year earlier. Shipments to the Americas rose 15%, followed by South Asia at 11% and Sub-Saharan Africa at 10%, according to figures presented by Noraini at the Malaysian Palm Oil Forum KL 2026.
These growth rates are shaping the Malaysian Palm Oil Council's market-development priorities. MPOC chairman Datuk Carl Bek-Nielsen said the council is focusing increasingly on regions with more stable long-term demand prospects. The strategy does not mean abandoning traditional buyers. Malaysia plans to strengthen existing markets while developing opportunities across Africa, ASEAN, the Middle East and other regions where consumption can expand.
MPOC builds a commercial network closer to buyers
MPOC has relocated its Sub-Saharan African regional office from Johannesburg, South Africa, to Nairobi, Kenya. It has also opened branches in Lagos, Nigeria, and Chennai, India. The moves give Malaysian suppliers a presence in markets that serve large consumer populations and regional trading networks. More than 100 international buyers from over 20 countries joined MPOC's Trade Networking Visit, while an MPOC BizMatch event scheduled for 8 October 2026 was set to connect overseas buyers with Malaysian suppliers through more than 400 business meetings.
Market expansion is being paired with research into higher-value applications. MPOC scheduled the first Malaysian Palm Oil Scientific Series for 8 October 2026, focusing on the use of bioactive compounds in food and health. MPOC chief executive Belvinder Sron said market development and scientific research must advance together to create demand, develop new applications and raise the value of Malaysian palm oil. For producers and processors, the strategy links near-term sales efforts with a longer-term push beyond bulk commodity markets. For traders and buyers, the new offices and matching programme could provide more direct access to Malaysian suppliers as demand grows across Africa, the Middle East and South Asia.
