Press Release 31^st SOM

1. The 31st Senior Officials Meeting of the Council of Palm Oil Producing Countries (CPOPC) was held in Jakarta, Indonesia, on 29 June 2026, in a hybrid format. The Meeting was chaired and hosted by Hon. Dida Gardera, Senior Advisor for Connectivity and Service Sector of the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia.

2. The Meeting was attended by Senior Officials of CPOPC Member Countries, namely YBhg. Dato’ Yusran Shah bin Mohd Yusof, Secretary General of the Ministry of Plantation and Commodities of Malaysia; Hon. Ing. Ricardo Peña Ramírez, Vice Minister of Agriculture of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock of Honduras, who participated virtually; Hon. Kepson K. Pupita, Chief Executive Officer of the Oil Palm Industry Corporation of Papua New Guinea; and Hon. Monique Gieskes, Chief Executive Officer of the Plantations et Huileries du Congo of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

3. The Senior Officials reaffirmed the importance of strengthening cooperation among palm oil producing countries, including through the expansion of CPOPC’s membership. United voices are important amid growing global economic uncertainties and geopolitical challenges to further strengthen CPOPC’s role as a platform for collaboration and as an advocate for the millions of livelihoods that depend on the palm oil sector, particularly smallholders.

4. The Meeting was also attended by high-level representatives from observer countries, Ghana and Nigeria. The observer countries reaffirmed their commitments to becoming full members at the earliest possible to strengthening cooperation in the palm oil sector.

5. The Meeting approved the membership application of Costa Rica, marking an important step towards expanding CPOPC's membership and strengthening cooperation among palm oil-producing countries. The Secretariat will formally communicate the Council's decision to the Government of Costa Rica, including the grant of Observer Status, in accordance with CPOPC's established Procedure on Membership Admissions. Costa Rica will subsequently undertake the necessary domestic procedures to complete its accession and deposit its Instrument of Accession within two years.

6. The Meeting commended CPOPC’s progress in strengthening international cooperation and advocacy for the palm oil sector through strategic engagements with multilateral organisations such as the United Nations, UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the FAO Committee on World Food Security, as well as the ASEAN. The Meeting commended CPOPC’s active participation in international forums that further reinforced CPOPC’s commitment to expanding global collaboration and promoting sustainable palm oil. 

7. Recognising the importance of broadening CPOPC’s international outreach, the Meeting encouraged the Secretariat to further strengthen engagement with major key consuming countries, such as India, China, and Pakistan, as well as in African Region, and emerging markets while continuing constructive dialogue with the European Union.

8. The Meeting also welcomed the Secretariat's update on preparations for the 4th Sustainable Vegetable Oils Conference (SVOC), which will be held in Shanghai, China, on 27 October 2026. The Conference is expected to serve as an important platform for fostering constructive dialogue among governments, industry, academia, and other stakeholders on the future of sustainable vegetable oils while promoting science-based discussions, international cooperation, and a balanced understanding of the role of sustainable palm oil in global food security and sustainable development.

9. The Senior Officials welcomed the positive outcomes of CPOPC's Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) training programmes for independent oil palm smallholders conducted in Sumatra, Central Kalimantan, and West Sulawesi in Indonesia, as well as Sabah and Sarawak in Malaysia. These programmes have enhanced smallholder capacity to adopt good agricultural practices, promote sustainable oil palm cultivation, and facilitate knowledge exchange and crosscountry learning among CPOPC Member Countries.

10. On current market development and future outlook, the Meeting acknowledged the complex factors influencing the global supply and demand of palm oil. While evolving climate conditions, geopolitical developments, elevated energy prices, and strengthened biofuel mandate may provide opportunities for increased market demand and improved revenues. The Meeting also noted the concurrent challenges arising from growing demand from the energy sector, tightening global supplies, and increasingly stringent sustainability requirements in international market.

11. The Meeting recognized the significance of the YoungElaeis Ambassadors program in strengthening advocates for sustainable palm oil. Through the YEA Induction Week, it provided participants with opportunities to engage directly with key stakeholders and industry players in Indonesia and Malaysia—the world’s leading palm oil producing countries—and to deepen their understanding of the sector through field visit, dialogue, and knowledge exchange.