Malaysia expected to maintain position as world’s largest producer of Certified Sustainable Palm Oil

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is expected to maintain its position as the world's largest producer of Certified Sustainable Palm Oil (CSPO) given continued support from the country's oil palm companies and the Government, said Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) secretary-general Darrel Webber.

"Achieving the two status is not a small feat," he said, referring to Malaysia's position as the world's largest producer of CSPO as well as the second largest producer of CPO.

"This astounding success should be attributed to the dedicated local growers, the Malaysian Palm Oil Association and the Government," he said at a media briefing yesterday.

Webber said Malaysia was growing from strength to strength, and undoubtedly on the crest of a wave in the production of sustainable palm oil and its expertise could be applied to other markets like Thailand, Central and West Africa, Latin and Central America.

"Malaysia should be referred as a solid and encouraging role model participating actively with the RSPO to come up with innovative ideas and solutions in achieving the CSPO.

Currently, Malaysia contributes over 50% of CSPO in the world, followed by Indonesia at 35% and the remaining from Papua New Guinea, West Africa and South America.

The RSPO estimated that the annual production capacity of RSPO-certified production units was at 4.2 million tonnes, or 9% of the world's palm oil production of 46 million tonnes with Malaysia contributing about 2.25 million tonnes.

He said RSPO's strategy moving forward for CSPO in Malaysia was to educate and encourage manufacturers and retailers through the launch of the RSPO trademark in stimulating the CSPO uptake.

"We also want to position Malaysia's case studies and world class innovations as a success stories in our pro-active international outreach to Europe, India and China," he said.

Meanwhile, Webber said the suspension of IOI Corp Bhd's certification process by RSPO due to a dispute with the natives over a plot of land in Sarawak was still being deliberated.

"We are still going through the formal process of the grievance panel, we are analysing the information we have collected," he said.

In early April, IOI Corp said there was a dispute with natives over plantation land in Sarawak which was occupied by its 70% owned IOI Pelita Plantation Sdn Bhd.

By:EDY SARIF
Source: The Star Online