Palm Oil Industry in Malaysia

Palm Oil Industry in Malaysia Skills & Knowledge for Sustained Development in Africa 24 June 2009 1 1 Origin of Palm Oil The oil palm tree (Elaeis Guineensis Jacq.) originated from West Africa in a belt from Angola to Senegal. The earliest archaeological evidence on palm oil consumption was found in an Egyptian tomb in Abydos. As no palm oil was produced in the country, the evidence implied that the oil had been traded during the time of the Pharaohs, 5,000 years ago Original steps to extract palm oil Harvesting fruit bunches Cooking to sterilise fruit bunches Separate fruitlets from the bunch Softening the fruitlets Pressing out oil Oil collection The oil palm tree (Elaeis Guineensis Jacq.) originated from West Africa with a history of consumption dating back to 5,000 years. Today it feeds ~3 billion people in 150 countries. Source: MPOC Publications 2

Global Palm Oil Industry Today, palm oil is one of the 17 major oils traded in the global edible oils & fats market. Palm oil can be found in one out of every ten food products worldwide. Key importers of palm oil today are China, India, EU-27 & Pakistan. Global vegetable oil supply (M MT) 250 1,000 3% 952 3% 200 Supply Growth (2010-2020F) 4.8% 161 207 14% 28.17 17% 23.39 1,840 6% 11,748 40% 150 14% 22.85 4,532 15% 100 121 16% 19.05 16% 18.91 33% 40.36 129 15% 19.7 16% 20.03 35% 45.44 13% 20.59 33% 53.38 29% 60.7 5,223 17% 50 35% 43.03 34% 43.58 40% 64.57 46% 94.3 4,694 16% 0 2008 2010F 2015F 2020F China EU-27 India Pakistan Bangladesh United States Others Palm Oil Soybean Oil Rapeseed Oil Others World Palm Oil Imports(2008) Palm oil is expected to make up 34-46 % of vegetable supply (2010-2020F) Source: LMC Oilseeds Outlook for Profitability to 2020 (Jan 2009), USDA Database April 2009 3 Palm Oil Value Chain & Applications Upstream Midstream Downstream Processing Consumer Products ACTIVITIES Seed production Nursery Cultivation Harvesting Milling Trading Crude palm oil bulking Refining Fractionation Oleochemical Esterification Refined product storage Packaging and branding Food products Non-food products PRODUCTS 45,000 40,000 35,000 30,000 25,000 20,000 15,000 10,000 5,000 0 DxP seeds Fresh fruit bunches Crude palm oil Palm kernel Biomass (Empty Fruit Bunches, kernel shell, fronds) Palm oil mill effluent 1974/1975 1976/1977 1978/1979 Food Use 1980/1981 1982/1983 1984/1985 1986/1987 Crude palm oil Palm kernel Crude palm kernel oil Palm kernel cake 1988/1989 1990/1991 1992/1993 Non-Food Use 1994/1995 20% 1996/1997 RBD Palm Oil Palm Fatty Acid Distillate RBD Palm Olein RBD Palm Stearin RBD PK Olein RBD PK Stearin Cocoa Butter Equivalent Cocoa Butter Substitute Cocoa Butter Replacers Fatty acid, alcohols, amines, amides Glycerines Palm methyl esters Tocotrienol 80% Cooking oil, frying fats Margarine Shortening Vanaspati Ice cream, non-dairy creamers Candles, soap Emulsifiers Vitamin E supplements Confectionery Bakery fats Biodiesel Energy generation Animal feed Organic fertiliser from biomass 1964/1965 1966/1967 1968/1969 1970/1971 1972/1973 1974/1975 1976/1977 1978/1979 1980/1981 1982/1983 1984/1985 1986/1987 1988/1989 1990/1991 1992/1993 1994/1995 1996/1997 1998/1999 2000/2001 2002/2003 2004/2005 2006/2007 These days, palm oil and derived products are channeled into worldwide industrial and commercial activities to churn out food products as well as non-food applications. 4 Source: MPOC Publications, USDA Database

Palm Oil Benefits Versatile As the cheapest traded edible oil, palm oil can be used for food and non-food purposes Examples of food use Cooking Oil Shortening Margarines Vanaspati Cocoa butter substitutes Key ingredient in instant noodle production Examples of non-food use Oleochemicals Biodiesel Energy generation Healthy Balanced composition of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids Saturated palmitic acid (44%), Monounsaturated oleic acid (40%) Polyunsaturated fatty acids (10%) Can be blended with other soft oils to meet AHA 1 recommended ratio of 1:1:1 (saturated, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated fatty acids) High carotene content 15x higher than carrots 50x higher than tomatoes Cholesterol-free, no risk of trans fatty acids Does not require hydrogenation in food use Contains vitamin E Highest content of tocotrienols among edible oils Also contains tocopherols Meets the FAO/WHO Food Standard requirements under the CODEX Alimentarius Commission Programme. 1. American Heart Association Source: MPOC publications 5 Palm Oil Benefits Sustainable Compared to other oilseeds, the oil palm tree: Has the highest oil yield per ha Requires the lowest fertiliser inputs (~1MT of fertiliser per planted ha) Productive cycle of ~25 years RSPO-compliant producers are required to meet specific environment & social criteria Eco-friendly practices Wastage from plantations are reused e.g. EFB mulched as fertilisers back in estates Palm kernel shells biomass feedstock at mills for steam generation Palm oil mill effluent biogas for electricity generation Not only does palm oil have the potential to feed world due to its abundance, but it is also a versatile, healthy and a sustainable source of oil. 6 Source: MPOC publications

Oil Palm Cultivation Area Physical Conditions for Oil Palm Planting - Prime Area - Plantable Area Plantable = +/- 10 degrees off the equator. Prime areas = +/- 5 degrees off the equator. Located within the equator band Humid tropical climate Temperature range of 24-32 C throughout the year Ample sunshine (~ 5-7 hours a day in all months) Evenly distributed annual rainfall of ~ 2,000mm Soil ph <7.5 Relative humidity ~ 85% No stagnant water Oil palm hectarage in Malaysia has grown from 320,000 ha in the 1970s to over 4million ha today 7 Source: MPOC publications, The Oil Palm 4 t edition by R.H.V. Corley, P.B. Tinker Oil Palm Cultivation Area 6, 000 Global oil palm mature areas: 10.5m ha in 2007 Indonesia: 5.0m ha Malaysia : 3.9m ha 5, 000 4, 000 5,000 Oil Palm Mature Area (000 Ha) 3,900 (2007) Other oil crops Soybean Groundnut Sunflower Rapeseed : 94.6m ha : 21.9m ha : 24.0m ha : 27.2m ha 3, 000 2, 000 1, 000 450 405 230 1,282 0 Indonesia Malaysia Thailand Nigeria Colombia Oth countries Rapeseed Sunflower Groundnut Soybean oil 0.69 0.45 0.19 0.40 Average lifespan of a oil palm tree ~25 years Palm clones planted in Malaysia & Indonesia : Tenera Palm oil 3.65 0.00 0.50 1.00 1.50 2.00 2.50 3.00 3.50 4.00 Oil Yields (MT/Ha) = X Tenera Dura Pisifera Relative to other oilseeds, the oil palm tree is the highest yielding oil crop at an average yield of 3.65MT/ha Source: Oilworld Database (June 2008) 8

Palm Oil Industry Against Economic Cycles GDP Growth (%) Million MT 15.00 10.00 5.00 0.00-5.00-10.00 18.00 16.00 14.00 12.00 10.00 8.00 6.00 4.00 2.00 0.00 Historical GDP growth and CPO Prices (1980-2008) US Recession 1982 Recession 1990-1991 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 World GDP Growth Msia GDP Growth CPO Price Malaysia palm oil export data (1980-2008) Dot-Com Crash 2000-2002 Asian Financial Crisis 1997-1998 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 3,000 2,500 2,000 1,500 1,000 500 0 Price (RM/MT) There has been several recession periods since 1980. CPO prices cycles have been influenced by supply and demand dynamics impacted by economic conditions However Malaysian palm export data has shown historical upside trend As a food necessity, demand for palm oil has always been on increasing trend due to world population growth. Outlook on CPO prices expect to range between RM2,000-2,300/MT (US 570-660/MT) by end of 2009. Msia Palm Oil Export Volume Historical data shows that demand for palm oil as a food product has always been increasing despite peaks and troughs in economic cycles Note: IMF regards periods when global growth is less than 3% to be global recessions. Source: MPOB website, OECD Financial Indicators database 9 Palm Oil Production & Midterm Prospects 1.41 3.3% 0.83 1.9% 4.33 10.1% Palm Oil Production (M MT) 100 94.30 90 80 Supply Growth (2010-2020F) 8.0% 6.12 2.15 2.85 17.31 40.2% 70 60 64.57 4.92 1.52 27.84 19.15 44.5% 50 40 43.03 42.34 4.33 3.70 0.83 0.93 1.41 1.26 43.58 3.86 1.03 1.27 22.77 1.89 30 17.31 17.17 17.77 55.34 20 Indonesia Malaysia Thailand Colombia Rest of the World 33.47 Total Production = 43m MT 10 19.15 19.28 19.65 World Palm Oil Production (2008) 0 2008 2009F 2010F 2015F 2020F Indonesia Malaysia Thailand Colombia Rest of the World At a forecasted supply growth of 8%, palm oil is well positioned to meet global food and nonfood demands. Malaysia is the second largest producer and leading exporter of palm oil. Source: LMC Oilseeds Outlook for Profitability to 2020 (Jan 2009) 10

Economic Importance To Malaysia Today, the palm oil industry has become a key economic growth driver in Malaysia Second largest contributor to 2008 external trade (~6.9% at RM 46bn) Direct employment ~570,000 people Estimated total employment ~860,000 (incl. downstream) Others 32.5% Electronics & electrical products 41.8% Sector No. Capacity (MT/annum) FFB Mills 408 93.2m Palm Kernel Crushers 41 5.2m Refineries 50 19.2m Oleochemical 17 2.6m Chemicals & chemical products 6.2% Crude oil and condensates 6.5% Liquefied natural gas (LNG) 6.1% Malaysia External Trade (2008) Total= RM663bn Palm oil 6.9% The palm oil industry has been a key economic growth driver by creating jobs and triggering downstream activities to bring in revenue for national development and stability, especially Malaysia & Indonesia Source: LMC Oilseeds Outlook for Profitability to 2020 (Jan 2009) 11 History Of The Malaysian Palm Oil Industry Key Milestones 1800s Oil Palm Introduction 1875: Introduced to Malaya by the British as an ornamental plant 1917 Oil Palm Commercialisation First commercial planting in Tennamaran Estate, Selangor 1960s Crop Diversification 1960s: Malaysia increased cultivation pace of oil palms Introduction of land settlement schemes (e.g. FELDA 1 ) as means to eradicate poverty Malaysia overtook Nigeria as world s largest exporter of palm oil 1970s-1980s Industrialisation & Origin Refining 1970s: Expansion of domestic refining & fractionation facilities 1980s: Malaysianisation of 3 plantation companies, namely Guthrie, Golden Hope and Sime Darby Founding of KL Commodity Exchange (KLCE) for price setting, hedging and dissemination of market info TODAY Market Expansion & Product Diversification Malaysia and Indonesia are top palm oil producers Existence of world s largest listed plantation company via the Synergy Drive 2 merger China, India, & EU are key consumers of palm oil 1. FELDA: Federal Land & Development Authority 2. The corporate merger of Guthrie, Golden Hope Plantations and Sime Darby was completed in 2007 Source: MPOC Publications 12

History Of The Malaysian Palm Oil Industry Oil Palm Introduction and Commercialisation The oil palm tree was first introduced to Malaya by the British as an ornamental plant in 1875 but it was only commercially planted in Tennamaran Estate, Selangor 1917 by Henri Fauconnier. Crop Diversification Efforts Despite threats of the Emergency during the 1960s, the oil palm expansion in Malaysia was rapid as its economic potential was recognised by the Malaysian Government as a complementary crop to rubber in the poverty eradication programme. The Federal Land Development Authority (FELDA) first introduced the oil palm in 1961 on an initial size of 375 ha to help the landless farmers. Due to the fall in rubber and tin prices, estate planting of oil palm tended to be on old rubber estate land when the prospects of high yields and profitability of palm oil were recognised. In 1966, Malaysia overtook Nigeria as the world s leading exporter of palm oil. Compared to Malaysia, the Indonesia government only started to directly invest in state owned plantations in 1968. Export Diversification Realising from historical experience with rubber and tin that dependence on narrow product lines can bring price downswings, the Malaysian government embraced diversification as a way to sustain production and exports. Acting against the advice of international agencies, the Malaysian government began in the late 1970s to encourage a shift from CPO exports to refined products through taxation and incentive policies. The 1980s saw the Malaysianisation of 3 major plantation companies previously run by the British i.e. Sime Darby, Guthrie and Harrison & Crossfield (later Golden Hope Plantations) 1980 also saw the founding of the Kuala Lumpur Commodity Exchange (KLCE), a key instrument for price setting, hedging and dissemination of market information to reduce market risk in the trading of palm oil. 13 History Of The Malaysian Palm Oil Industry Industrialisation & Market Expansion Seeing the need for product development to sustain the upstream development of palm oil, the industry was flagged for sectoral support under the Industrial Master Plan of 1986 (IMP1). The IMP1 emphasised on the rationalisation of refining and fractionation to increase efficiency and competitiveness of Malaysian palm oil in the world market. As a result, Malaysia became a hub of palm oil downstream processing as it was more economical to export refined products than to have them processed in Europe. While Malaysia became a leading exporter of refined oil, demand for CPO exports then shifted to Indonesia as further oil palm expansion was encouraged through Indonesian government initiated smallholder schemes. By the time the Industrial Master Plan 2 (IMP2) was launched in 1996, Malaysia s processing capacity has exceeded the supply of CPO. IMP2 led to the expansion of oil palm hectarage to East Malaysia and also encouraged the private sector to seek raw materials from abroad. IMP2 also saw stimulated participation in R&D to meet the call for productivity gains and further value-added product development along the value chain. The Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC) was tasked to develop a comprehensive strategy to position Malaysia as an international leader in the oils & fats market through promotional activities. Despite Indonesia having overtaken Malaysia as a leading producer of palm oil since 2007 due to its vast landbank expansion and labour opportunities, the industry is still thriving in Malaysia. Malaysia is still a leading exporter of palm oil to major consumers in China, EU and India. In fact, Sime Darby and FELDA, both Malaysian-based companies are today the world s largest plantation companies (based on planted area). 14

Malaysian Oil Palm Area ( 000 ha) 5,000 4,500 470 11% Planted Area ( 000 ha) -2007 Total= 4.3 m ha 2,599 61% 4,000 3,500 314 7% 3,000 2,500 2,000 1,500 1,000 500 0 CAGR 1975-2007 5.9% 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2007 P.Malaysia Sabah Sarawak Planted Area 922 21% Private Estates State Schemes Govt. Schemes Smallholders Oil palm estates in Peninsular Malaysia were mainly converted from rubber plantations Oil palm hectarage has grown at a compound growth rate of 5.9% from 1975 to 2007 Planted Area by region 55% Peninsular Malaysia 45% East Malaysia Planted area by ownership 60% Private estates 29% Government schemes (e.g. FELDA) 7% State schemes 11% Smallholders While oil palm planting expansion in Peninsular Malaysia is likely to plateau, Sabah & Sarawak has been mooted for further expansion outlined in the Industrial Master Plan 2 (1996) 15 Source: MPOB website The FELDA Story Poverty Eradication Concept adopted: Government agencies were set up (FELDA, FELCRA and RISDA) to allow plantation developed land to be distributed to the landless poor. Management expertise from the government was used to run the organised smallholdings. The FELDA story Involvement with oil palm began in 1961 with an initial area of 375 ha. Today planted oil palm hectarage stands at 722,946 ha. 250 settlement schemes incorporating 95,000 families Selection criteria Age bracket of 21-50 years, married and physically fit FELDA settler home Key success factors: Highly centralised administration and management Through FELDA s integrated business operations along the palm oil value chain, FELDA provides support services to settlers ranging from basic community infrastructure to financing, processing & marketing. Settlers only given subsistence payment until the first crop harvest Settlers entitled to same sale prices of the produce as private estates Three stage development package: Co-operative system Prepare settlers with know-how Settlers manage small blocks of land Encourage self reliance Settlers given individual titles FELDA s success story has tied the prosperity of rural Malaysia with the palm oil industry. Today it is the largest plantation player with 723k ha planted area. 16 Source: MPOC Publications, FELDA website

Private Sector The private sector in the palm oil industry today consists mostly of integrated players with plantation estates and refineries. There are currently 41 plantation companies listed in Bursa Malaysia. However, there are also diversified and private unlisted companies participating in the palm oil industry. Sime Darby is currently the world s largest listed plantation player by planted area (~530k ha), Contributing 6% of world CPO production. Market capitalisation of RM41bn As at 18 June 2009 Main Board Second Board Total # of Plantation Companies 38 3 41 Market Capitalisation (RM bn) 71.7 0.6 72.3 Current Malaysian plantation PE ratios range from 10x-17x Today, most Malaysian private companies have expanded their coverage beyond the Malaysian border, owning plantation estates and running destination refineries overseas. The private sector has also played a role in developing smallholder plantations. E.g. Native Customary Rights (NCR) plantation development in Sarawak Private sector contribute up to 60% of capital; providing funding & management expertise Smallholders contribute land and workforce The private sector has also acknowledge the importance of R&D and infrastructure development in the palm oil industry. The private sector currently accounts for 60% of planted area in Malaysia and have been active participant in shaping the Malaysian palm oil downstream and export sector Source: Bursa Malaysia 17 Key Drivers of the Malaysian Palm Oil Sector Government Policies in Malaysia Methods Taxation Incentives & Allowances Import Substitution Before 1970s Export Diversification Late 1970s onwards Revenue from export tax of CPO Purpose of maintenance and development of infrastructure Financial incentives for palm oil refining 40% abatement of corporate income tax for 2 years 7 year tax holidays for pioneer status refineries Introduced duty differences between CPO and processed palm oil To stimulate palm oil processing activities in the country Avoid overburdening CPO producers Protect duty revenue as much as possible Avoid providing financial support from other sources Subsequently tax credits were focused to stimulate further downstream processing (fractionated products, cooking oil, margarine, vanaspati & shortening) Success of Malaysian downstream industry attributed to: Big processors coordinated easily with MITI Major palm oil processors were also oil palm cultivators Strong support from MITI 1, SIRIM 2, MPOPC 3, PORLA 4 & PORIM 5 Since the 1960s, the Malaysian Government policies have moved from import substitution initiatives to export-oriented diversification detailed in the Industrial Malaysia Plan 1. MITI Ministry of International Trade & Industry 2. SIRIM Standards & Industrial Research Institute of Malaysia 3. MPOPC - Malaysian Palm Oil Promotion Council 4. PORLA Palm Oil Registration & Licensing Authority 5. PORIM Palm Oil Research Institute Malaysia 18

Key Drivers of the Malaysian Palm Oil Sector Government Policies in Malaysia Area focus Industrial Master Plan 1 (1985-1995) Peninsular Malaysia Call for development of different segments of the industry in the value chain especially oleochemicals Industrial Master Plan 2 (1996-present) East Malaysia Call for productivity gains Encouraged Malaysia to seek raw materials from abroad Human Resources Technology Infrastructure Training institutes, universities On the job training Adapt process and R&D technology from PORIM Local fabrication Rationalisation of palm oil refining and fractionation To increase efficiency and competitiveness in world markets Training focused on downstream products Training of R&D personnel Overseas training Localisation of machinery & equipment production Reduce downtime and costs from freight and exchange rate fluctuations Expansion of bulking, onshore pumping, storage and handling facilities in East Malaysia Tax & regulatory agencies Government incentives Double deduction tax benefit on export sales Export tax on CPO to reduce supplies to destination refineries in Europe Market coordinated incentives The support for the palm oil industry outlined under the IMP emphasised on supply security and development of different segments in the downstream value chain 19 Key Drivers of the Malaysian Palm Oil Sector Network Cohesion Between the Government and Private Sector Government Create vital institutions, MPOB and MPOC for coordination with: Universities for research MITI for promotion of international trade Private sector for smooth informational flows Industry Associations Provide ex-ante discussions between captains of industry and government officials Examples: MPOA 1 PORAM 2 MOSTA 3 Smallholders/Govt Schemes Plantation owners Private Sector Plantation owners Palm oil refiners and downstream processors Policy Implementation (Examples) Replanting subsidies Timed with glut in CPO prices (2000 & 2009) Regulation and incentives on palm oil refineries, biodiesel plants Mandatory blending of palm B5 biodiesel (2009) R&D Collaborations Research undertaken by universities (local & abroad) Grants from government Joint support and commercialisation by private sector 1. MPOA Malaysian Palm Oil Assocation 2. PORAM Palm Oil Refiners Association Malaysia 3. MOSTA Malaysian Oil Scientists and Technologist Association Promotional & Marketing Activities Coordinated trade policies Overseas promotional and business efforts Trust and systematic coordination between the government and associations of planters, processors and manufacturers have provided a smooth development and flow of industry information 20

Key Drivers of the Malaysian Palm Oil Sector Skills and Knowledge Developed By The Malaysian Palm Oil Players Upstream Major plantation companies today ensure implementation of best estate practices: Engage experiences estate managers as plantation advisors Developed Agricultural Research Manual (ARM) as reference for planters Skills training for harvesters Introduction of mechanisation to reduce labour dependencies Development of standard mill operating procedures Minimise oil losses Minimise machinery breakdown Downstream processing Prior to the 1970s, palm oil refineries were mostly located in Europe. Palm oil refiners initially acquired machinery & equipment from suppliers at arms-length transactions Subsequently Malaysian companies have since acquired destination refineries in Europe (e.g. Sime Darby and IOI) PORIM 1 (subsequently MPOB 2 ) have spearheaded process improvement technology Today, most machinery & equipment are produced and fabricated locally Reduces downtime and costs exposure to freight and exchange rate fluctuations Golden Jomalina Unimills Austral Edible Oil Infrastructure development and integration from upstream to downstream was possible due to economies of scale built up by local palm oil players and stable geopolitical conditions 1. PORIM Palm Oil Research Institute Malaysia (established in 1979) 2. MPOB Malaysian Palm Oil Board (merger of PORIM and Palm Oil Registration & Licensing Authority PORLA) 21 Key Drivers of the Malaysian Palm Oil Sector Research & Development Breeding In 1960, Malaysian Department of Agriculture established exchange program with West African economies and 4 private plantations to set up the Oil Palm Genetics Laboratory Under the second IMP 1, calls were focused on mass tissue culture and genetic engineering to improve planting material quality Education Establishment of an agriculture-focused education institution - Universiti Putra Malaysia To train agricultural and agro-industrial engineers and agro-business graduates to conduct research in the field Set up of training academies by private sector (e.g. Sime Darby Academy) to provide on-the-job training. Agencies Set up of PORIM 2 (subsequently MPOB 3 ) to undertake R&D support Conduct training on chemistry, quality, analytical techniques, processing operations, transportation and handling of palm oil products Under IMP, role expanded to include training and R&D in oleochemicals, specialty fats and processed palm kernel oil Palm oil R&D efforts in Malaysia have seen an increase in value added and new product development breakthroughs 1. IMP - Industrial Malaysia Plan 2. PORIM Palm Oil Research Institute Malaysia (established in 1979) 3. MPOB Malaysian Palm Oil Board (merger of PORIM and Palm Oil Registration & Licensing Authority PORLA) 22

Malaysia & Indonesia Palm Oil Industry Comparisons Malaysia Indonesia Institutional support Policy Formulation Research PORLA PORIM MPOB (merger of PORLA & PORIM in 2000) Directorate General of Estate Crops Indonesian Oil Palm Research Institute (IOPRI) Associations Malaysian Palm Oil Association (MPOA) Palm Oil Refiners Association (PORAM) Gabungan Pengusaha Kelapa Sawit Indonesia (GAPKI) Assosiasi Minyak Makan Indonesia (AIMMI) Relative to Malaysia, representation of the palm oil industry in Indonesia was seen to be fragmented. Research efforts in Indonesia were focused on expansion of oil palm area rather than product innovation. Type of Policies Implemented Export Oriented interventions Resulted in deliberate export shift from CPO to refined products Motivated product development Encouraged competition & market efficiency Import substitution interventions Stabilise domestic price of cooking oil Focused on upstream area expansion to increase CPO production Less successful in creating dynamic environment to encourage forward linkages Encouraged rent seeking Malaysia pursued a more proactive policy to drive learning & innovation through key instruments of agencies, funding, network coordination. Lack of such instruments has largely restricted Indonesia to cultivation and processing to meet domestic demand. 23 Issues & Responses Current Issues Maintain Malaysia s position as a leading palm oil producer Landbank expansion limitations Efforts to improve operational efficiency and productivity Susceptibility to price fluctuations Environmental/Sustainability concerns on: Oil palm plantation expansion (especially East Malaysia) Allegations of open burning, planting on peat soil, endangering orang utan habitats Policy levers/ Responses Productivity enhancement efforts through: Estate practices Mill practices R&D to produce high yielding planting materials Existing government policies Replanting subsidies Reduce supply for mature trees to give way to new plantings Palm biodiesel mandate, B5 in government transportation Ensure RSPO compliance by plantation estates Subsidies to smallholders to obtain RSPO certification Government policies on land conversion Oil palm in Malaysia can only be planted on idle land or designated agriculture land Private sector and government agencies should highlight existing sustainable practices: Zero-burning replanting technique Biological control in weed control, pest control Highlight policies on planting on peat soil conditions 24

Issues & Responses Current Issues Consumer misconceptions on palm oil especially in new markets e.g. China, Eastern Europe Low quality oil Unhealthy Policy levers/ Responses Private sector cooperation with government agencies (e.g. MPOB, MPOC, MITI) to market and dispel misconceptions about palm oil Joint cooperation with renowned universities or R&D entities to publish reports on benefits of palm oil products 25 Conclusion Malaysia today has become a leading palm oil hub of trade and knowledge. The palm oil industry is a profitable business that provides opportunities to diversify into food and non-food products. The industry has been resilient, withstanding several economic recessions over the past century. However, this is subjected to several pre-requisites: Suitable soil and agronomic conditions Good infrastructure support in place Availability of good planting material Knowledge in plantation management and best practices Integration with modern milling and mechanisation processes Marketing capabilities & Quality control Access to R&D competencies for sustained development Network cohesion and sharing of information flow are also key between : Government and plantation sector Government to government Plantation sector and stakeholders Unlike other industries, benefits from the palm oil industry will only be reaped years later. We have to be passionate: ~ 3 years for commercial harvesting of new plantings Minimum payback of upstream greenfield investment ~6-7 years The economic cycle for upstream investment ~ 25 years ~ 2 years for a mill or even a refinery to begin operations 26

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