Kota Kinabalu: Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Berhad’s Crude Palm Oil Futures contract continues to set the world benchmark for price discovery, while the expansion into new instruments such as soybean oil and used cooking oil reflects its commitment to innovation and sustainability.
“Our purpose remains clear – to build a robust and innovative marketplace that reinforces Malaysia’s position as the global hub for palm oil price discovery,” said its Derivatives Market Director Mohd Saleem Kader Bakas.
AdvertisementBursa Malaysia Derivatives and the Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC) has successfully co-hosted the East Malaysia Palm Oil Forum (Empof) here on Aug 21, attracting more than 200 delegates from across Southeast Asia, including policymakers, traders, plantation leaders, financial institutions, investment professionals, risk managers, analysts and researchers.
The forum, the second edition to be held in Sabah, underscored East Malaysia’s growing role as a driver of sustainable palm oil and as a crucial contributor to Malaysia’s export palm oil output.
SPONSORED CONTENT Best may be yet to come for Sabah Oil and Gas In 2024 alone, Sabah OGSE contractors were awarded RM2 billion worth of work, demonstrating Sabah as a OGSE powerhouse for the future. Read more The event was officiated by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, who was represented by Industrial Development and Entrepreneurship Minister Datuk Phoong Jin Zhe.
“We are pleased to collaborate with MPOC in driving impactful dialogue and forging strategic partnerships that strengthen East Malaysia’s competitiveness,” said Mohd Saleem commenting on the significance of Empof.
Advertisement MPOC CEO Belvinder Sron said East Malaysia continues to play a pivotal role in Malaysia’s palm oil success story, contributing nearly 44 per cent of national production.
“At MPOC, we are committed to supporting this growth by championing sustainability, expanding market access and enhancing global competitiveness through targeted trade engagements and strategic partnerships.”
Advertisement The forum featured expert-led sessions and panel discussions on issues pertinent to Sabah and the wider palm oil sector, including EUDR Benchmarking, where Roland Berger partners provided a detailed assessment of Malaysia’s potential to achieve “low-risk” classification under the EU Deforestation Regulation (“EUDR”). This was followed by Sustainability in Action, in which Ernst & Young presented an evaluation of Malaysia’s achievements in sustainable palm oil practices, particularly in East Malaysia.
East Malaysia in Focus featured a panel discussion with leaders from the East Malaysia Planters Association (Empa), Sarawak Oil Palm Plantation Owners Association (Soppoa) and Teck Guan Group, addressing production and trade challenges in East Malaysia, moderated by Belvinder Sron, CEO of MPOC.
Market Opportunities saw Bursa Malaysia highlight pathways for capital raising via IPOs, while trading experts explored spread trading strategies and futures risk management.
Finally, the session on Outlook & Competitiveness gathered industry thought leaders to share perspectives on evolving trade dynamics, tariff policies and price outlooks.
In addition, the event served as a platform for cultivating business connections among participants, with sessions such as Broker Connect and the Sundowner Networking Reception – supported by EMPOF Broker Partner Phillip Capital Sdn Bhd – enabling regional palm oil industry players to explore actionable solutions and strategic collaborations that enhance business outcomes.
Bursa Malaysia Derivatives and MPOC extend their sincere appreciation to the Sabah Government, key industry players and associations, broker partner, speakers and delegates for their support in making Empof 2025 a success.
Read more on Daily Express Sabah
