RSPO names Malaysia as world’s largest producer of sustainable palm oil

Malaysian companies make up 20 per cent of RSPO's total membership, the highest by country representation amongst the organisation's 600 members from over 50 countries around the globe, with the UK and Indonesia tracking closely.

"Malaysia is growing from success to success, and is undoubtedly on the crest of a wave right now in the production of sustainable palm oil,”​ said Darrel Webber, secretary general RSPO.

“Achieving the status as the world's largest CSPO producer in less than three years since certification commenced, while being the world's second largest producer of Crude Palm Oil (CPO), is no small feat.”​

Webber added that the success should be attributed to the dedicated Malaysian growers, the Malaysian Palm Oil Association and the Malaysian Government.

Other countries should take note​

According to the RSPO, over half a million of its population is involved in the palm oil agricultural sector that contributes 8 per cent to the country's GDP, and has helped Malaysia forge ahead in an exemplary manner to embrace changes in all aspects and be seen as a role model for achieving CSPO.

"Malaysia's expertise in the production of sustainable palm oil will be applied to markets such as Thailand; Central and West Africa, Latin and Central America. RSPO will share these successful case studies from Malaysia in the international arena, through its outreach exercise in Europe, India and China,"​ Webber stated.

In Malaysia, approximately 11 per cent of oil palm plantations are owned by smallholders.

"The fact that thousands of smallholders in producing countries have been certified and with that, been given international market access, is an exemplary achievement of companies, communities, individuals and governments involved,"​ Webber added.