The Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC), in collaboration with Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Berhad (BMD), is organising the third edition of the East Malaysia Palm Oil Forum (EMPOF 2026) on Thursday, 19 November 2026 at the Sheraton Kuching Hotel in Sarawak, Malaysia.
About the Forum
East Malaysia accounts for roughly 55% of Malaysia's total oil palm planted area, which gives the region strategic weight in the industry. Through expert presentations and panel discussions, the forum offers stakeholders across the palm oil value chain a platform to exchange insights, strengthen business connections and explore opportunities for collaboration.
Key Themes
- Key industry developments and emerging opportunities.
- Geopolitical challenges and market trends.
- The potential impact of El Niño on palm oil production.
- Risk management and hedging strategies.
- The palm and lauric oil price outlook for 2027.
Programme
- 9:00 AM: Registration and morning coffee.
- 10:00 AM — Opening: Welcome remarks by Belvinder Sron, CEO of MPOC, and Mohd Saleem, Director, Derivatives & Carbon Markets at Bursa Malaysia, followed by a keynote address from the Guest of Honour (TBC).
- 11:00 AM — Paper 1: East Malaysia's palm oil industry: recent progress and key developments — Joseph Blandoi, Chairman, Sarawak Oil Palm Plantation Owners Association (SOPPOA).
- 11:30 AM — Panel discussion: Palm oil meets the energy market: East Malaysia's biofuels and feedstock opportunities. Moderated by U.R. Unnithan, Founder & CEO of SUMWIN Group, with Dato' Leong Kin Mun, President of the Malaysia Biomass Industries Confederation; Sheryl Leao of S&P Global Energy; and Ryan Long of Bursa Malaysia.
- 12:15 PM — Paper 2: Geopolitical disruptions and shifting vegetable oil trade flows: opportunities for palm oil — Nikhil Vallabhan, Director, Chemicals, Materials & Nutrition, Frost & Sullivan.
- 12:45 PM: Lunch and networking.
- 2:00 PM — Fireside chat: Weather risk is price risk: what El Niño means for East Malaysia's palm oil industry. Moderated by A. Fadzli Abdul Aziz, CEO of the Palm Oil Refiners Association of Malaysia (PORAM), with agronomist Dr Lee Chin Tui and an investment bank speaker (TBC).
- 2:45 PM — Paper 3: Beyond outright prices: hedging the palm oil margin (speaker TBC).
- 3:15 PM — Paper 4: Palm and lauric oils in 2027: price outlook, risks and key drivers — William Lau, Senior Analyst, MPOC.
- 3:45 PM: Tea break and networking; the programme closes at 4:30 PM.
Times are local Kuching time. The programme reflects the organiser's latest announcement, and the organiser may change the timing, venue, content or speakers.
Registration
Registration is open through an online form via the registration button on this page. The full programme is available on the MPOC website.
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