Experts attending the 7th Pakistan Edible Oil Conference (PEOC) 2025 strongly urged the government to promote local palm oil cultivation to reduce dependence on more than 90% imports from Indonesia and Malaysia. Speakers pointed out that there could be a severe shortage of palm oil in the coming years as Indonesia and Malaysia gradually increase palm oil for biodiesel production.
Recalling the impact on Pakistan’s supply caused by Indonesia’s cessation of global exports of palm oil a few years ago, experts emphasized that local production was the only sustainable solution to the problem. They urged the Government to take positive action to accelerate the spread of local palm oil cultivation.
Sheikh Umer Rehan, President of Pakistan Sunflower Manufacturers Association (PVMA), also emphasized the potential of palm oil cultivation in coastal areas. He pointed out that Sindh and Balochistan are well suited for palm oil cultivation and called upon the government to subsidize the related projects. He said that Sindh and Punjab have produced about one million tons of palm oil over the past two decades, but this figure is still far from enough to meet domestic demand.
Rehan further warned that with Indonesia and Malaysia increasing the use of palm oil in biodiesel production, Pakistan may not be able to continue importing enough palm oil from these two major suppliers in the future. He called on the government to take urgent measures to avert a potential palm oil shortage crisis.