Plantation conglomerate IOI Corp is expanding into higher-margin palm oil products, according to a New Straits Times article citing a report by Public Investment Bank (PublicInvest).

Following a surge in the cost of cocoa in 2024, prices have since slumped, along with cocoa butter prices.

Italian oil and gas company Eni is moving forward with plans to convert some units at its Sannazzaro de’ Burgondi refinery in Italy into a biorefinery.

Leading palm oil company SD Guthrie, formerly known as Sime Darby Plantation (SD Plantation), reported a record net profit of MYR2.5bn (US$633.75M) in 2025 – up 16% from the previous year.

A research team has increased the oleic acid content in soyabeans by editing the fatty acid desaturase-2 (FAD2) gene, Natural Science News wrote.

The ongoing Gulf conflict between the US and Israel against Iran has driven up crude oil prices and threatens to disrupt supply chains for commodities including soyabeans, corn and fertiliser.

A research team in China has found that waste from the Himalayan Prinsepia utilis Royle oilseed plant can be repurposed as a stabiliser for use in cosmetic applications, Cosmetics Design Asia wrote.

India, the world’s top edible oil importer, has cancelled more soyabean oil cargoes due to the sharp increase in prices for the oilseed compared with alternatives, according to a Financial Post report citing a Bloomberg article.

Indonesia has requested authorisation from the World Trade Organization (WTO) to suspend trade concessions towards the European Union (EU) after the bloc failed to comply with a WTO ruling related to restrictions on palm oil-based biofuels, the Jakarta Globe wrote.

The volume of US soyabean oil used in biofuel production is forecast to increase by around 17% in 2026/27, according to a report by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Labour shortages in Malaysian oil palm plantations are causing losses of approximately MYR7.5bn-MYR20bn (US$1.09bn-US$5.07bn)/year, according to a 1 March report by The Star quoting Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) president Dr Syed Hussain Syed Husman.

The Philippines will prioritise the development of the country’s coconut industry this year, as government projections show the sector could generate up to US$3bn in export revenues in 2026, the Daily Tribune reported.

The European Union (EU)’s proposed zero-tolerance limit for non-approved pesticides could impact imports of US soyabeans and other products, according to a US Department of Agriculture (USDA) report.