PRESS STATEMENTS 13^th MINISTERIAL MEETING OF CPOPC 17 DECEMBER 2025 KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA

PRESS RELEASE
13^th MINISTERIAL MEETING OF CPOPC
17 DECEMBER 2025
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA

1. The 13^th Ministerial Meeting of the Council of Palm Oil Producing Countries (CPOPC) was held on 17 December 2025 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, under the chairmanship of YBhg. Dato’ Yusran Shah bin Mohd Yusof on behalf of the Minister of Plantation and Commodities of Malaysia. The Meeting was also attended by Honourable Dida Gardera on behalf of Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs of Indonesia; Honourable Francis Galia Maneke, Minister for Oil Palm of the Independent State of Papua New Guinea; Mr. Josue Nzangi Kambale, Advisor to the Minister, Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC); and online by Her Excellency Laura Suazo, PhD, Minister of Agriculture and Livestock of Honduras.

2. Representatives of observer countries, Dr. Andrews Osei Okrah, Chief Executive Officer, Tree Crops Development Authority, Ghana; Dr. Alphonsus Inyang, President National Palm Produce Association of Nigeria (NPPAN), Nigeria; Mr. Juan Carlos Moreno Gutierrez, Charge d’ Affaires, Embassy of Colombia in Kuala Lumpur; together with the representatives of guest countries, Her Excellency Madam Daniella Ortega De Paiva Menezes, Ambassador of Brazil to Malaysia attended the Meeting. The growing number of participants reflects growing international interest in creating a platform for solidarity and collective action among palm oil–producing countries through CPOPC. The meeting welcomed CPOPC’s progress with Ghana and Nigeria toward full membership, and growing interest from Ecuador, Peru, and Costa Rica, which together enhance CPOPC’s global representation.

3. The Meeting commended CPOPC for strengthening global visibility through active engagement in international and regional platforms. Participation in the United Nations ECOSOC High-Level Political Forum 2025 is a milestone for showcasing palm oil’s contributions to gender equality, rural development, and economic growth. In addition, engagements with the World Bank, ASEAN, the International Food Policy Research Institute, and the Global Biofuel Alliance, further reinforce CPOPC’s role in global discussions.

4. The Members acknowledged CPOPC's targeted engagement with major consuming countries, particularly China and India, which strengthened partnerships and opened new avenues to support stable, inclusive, and sustainable palm oil trade. The Meeting also observed a more positive narrative on palm oil in several markets, with growing recognition of its efficiency, benefits, and contribution to food security. On engagement with the European Union, the Meeting welcomed increased outreach, including recent missions to Brussels, which strengthened advocacy on the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). The Ministers reaffirmed support for the Ad Hoc Joint Task Force (JTF) and mandated CPOPC to intensify preparations for the implementation phase to ensure harmonised, science-based, inclusive, and practical readiness, particularly for smallholders. The Meeting underscored the importance of enhancing transparency and traceability through producer-led national sustainability systems, including the Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil (ISPO) and Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) certification schemes as credible and proportionate solutions aligned with global sustainability objectives.

5. The Meeting deliberated on global palm oil market trends, noting continued cost competitiveness, rising demand for biofuels, and growth in emerging markets. They also acknowledged challenges from competing vegetable oils, aging plantations, and trade protectionism, and agreed on the need to boost productivity, strengthen sustainability, accelerate replanting, and invest in innovation and digital traceability. Realising the opportunities and challenges ahead, the Ministers emphasized the importance of deepening collaboration among producing and consuming countries as well as strengthen South–South cooperation. To this end, palm oil promotion through youth and digital programmes under the #YoungElaeis Ambassadors (YEAs) is commended.

6. In supporting CPOPC Member Countries, the Meeting underscored the need to strengthen smallholders’ and extension officers’ capacity through practical, field-based learning. CPOPC under the International Smallholders Workshop and Good Agricultural Practices trainings in Papua New Guinea and the Democratic Republic of the Congo support for the course which is vital for productivity improvement and sustainability enhancement in the palm oil sector. This highlights some of the benefits of being CPOPC’s Member Country.

7. The Meeting endorsed the CPOPC Strategic Roadmap 2025–2028, which sets the Council’s direction to harmonise producers, strengthen global acceptance, and enhance resilience through credible advocacy, shared knowledge, and deeper collaboration.

8. The Meeting also witnessed the handover of CPOPC’s Chairmanship from Malaysia to Indonesia, for a one-year term, effective 1 January 2026. Indonesia’s chairmanship is expected to further strengthen the role of CPOPC, especially in their capacity as the largest palm oil producing country across the globe.