The Deputy Minister of Plantation and Commodities, YB Datuk Chan Foong Hin, will lead a Malaysian delegation an official visit to the People’s Republic of China from 18 to 24 May 2025. The visit aims to strengthen bilateral trade relations, unlock new commercial opportunities, and drive innovation within Malaysia’s palm oil sector.
The delegation will begin its visit in Shanghai, where YB Datuk Chan will officiate the 20th Anniversary Commemoration Ceremony of the Palm Oil Research and Technical Service Institute of MPOB (PORTSIM) – the China office of the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB). The Secretary-General of the Ministry of Plantation and Commodities, Dato' Yusran Shah Bin Mohd Yusof, and the Director General of MPOB, Datuk Dr. Ahmad Parveez Ghulam Kadir, will also be in attendance.
Established in 2005, PORTSIM serves as Malaysia’s overseas R&D hub, facilitating technology transfer, product innovation, and the development of new palm oil applications in China. Through strategic collaborations with Chinese institutions and industries, PORTSIM plays a vital role in promoting palm-based products including food, oleochemicals, and detergents—contributing significantly to Malaysia’s downstream expansion in the Chinese market.
Following the Shanghai leg, the delegation will travel to Western China, including the cities of Chengdu and Chongqing, to conduct company visits and roundtable discussions with state-owned enterprises and local industry stakeholders. These engagements aim to enhance strategic collaboration and expand trade networks, with a particular emphasis on promoting palm oil applications in popular Chinese cuisines, such as mala hotpot, a renowned dish from Chongqing and Sichuan Province.
A key highlight of the visit will be YB Datuk Chan attending the 7th Western China International Fair for Investment and Trade (WCIFIT), and hosting the roundtable meetings with importers from the Western China, held at the Chongqing International Expo Centre. In addition, he will hold a courtesy meeting with the Chongqing Municipal People’s Government to explore broader cooperation in trade and investment, with a focus on the palm oil industry and other key Malaysian commodities. The meeting will also discuss expanding partnerships in Western
China, a region experiencing robust market growth and increasing demand for sustainable raw materials.
China is Malaysia’s third largest importer of palm oil and palm-based products globally, accounting for 10% of the total palm oil export value in 2024. Last year, Malaysia’s exports of these products to China reached RM10.57 billion, marking a 5.11% increase from RM10.06 billion in 2023. According to Oil World statistics (2024), Malaysia accounts for 26.7% of the market share in China.
This official visit underscores Malaysia’s commitment to deepening economic ties with China, enhancing market access for palm oil products, and supporting sustainable growth across key export sectors.