Top 4 Palm Oil Companies Worldwide in 2025 Strengthening Position with Ethical Sourcing

Palm oil has become an indispensable ingredient in the global supply chain, powering industries ranging from food and cosmetics to biofuels and pharmaceuticals. As one of the most widely used vegetable oils, its versatility and cost-effectiveness have fueled massive demand worldwide. However, the industry is also at the center of sustainability debates, with concerns over deforestation, biodiversity loss, and ethical sourcing driving companies to adopt responsible production practices.

Top 4 Palm Oil Companies in 2025 Transforming the Industry

1. Musim Mas Group

Founded in 1932, Musim Mas is an Indonesia-based food processing company with a global presence in the palm oil industry, operating in 13 countries across Asia Pacific, Europe, North America, and South America. The company manages an extensive network of palm oil refineries and is involved in vegetable oil refining. Employing around 37,000 people, Musim Mas utilizes a comprehensive logistics network that includes chemical and coastal tankers, barges, tugboats, and bulk installations at major ports in Indonesia and other strategic locations worldwide.

In 2014, Musim Mas introduced a sustainability policy committing to deforestation-free palm oil production. The company has implemented measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by capturing and converting methane gas into energy to power their mills and estates.

All Musim Mas mills are equipped with methane capture facilities, known as biogas plants. In 2021, Musim Mas partnered with AAK and Nestlé to address deforestation outside plantation concession areas in Aceh, Indonesia, aiming to engage nearly 1,000 independent oil palm smallholders within two years.

2. IOI Group

Established in 1969, IOI Group is a Malaysian conglomerate with substantial operations in palm oil plantations, property development, and the manufacturing of oleochemicals and specialty fats. The group manages about 176,925 hectares of oil palm plantations in Malaysia and Indonesia as well as operates 15 palm oil mills with a total refining capacity of 1.8 million metric tons of fresh fruit bunches per year from its 98 estates.

With an oil yield of about 6 tons per hectare per year at its mature estates, IOI is recognized as one of the most efficient plantation companies globally. It is considered the largest vegetable oil-based oleochemical manufacturer in Asia, producing fatty acids and esters, glycerin, soap noodles, fatty alcohols, and metallic stearates.

The products have various industrial applications, including food, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, personal care, home care, industrial detergents, surfactants, and lubricants. IOI's specialty fats and oils businesses are operated by its associate company Bunge Loders Croklaan, serving global food giants like Unilever, Nestlé, Cadbury, and Kraft.

3. Adani Wilmar

Incorporated in 1999 as a joint venture between India's Adani Group and Singapore-based Wilmar International, Adani Wilmar is a leading player in India's edible oil industry. The company markets its products under the brand name 'Fortune,' which has become a household name in India.

Beyond edible oils, Adani Wilmar has extended its product portfolio to include packaged products such as rice, soya chunks, and flour under the 'Fortune' brand. Between 2019 and 2020, the company ventured into the personal care market under the brand 'Alife' and entered the ready-to-cook products market.

4. Wilmar International Limited

Founded in 1991, Wilmar International is a Singaporean food processing and investment holding company with more than 300 subsidiary companies. It ranks among Asia's leading agribusiness groups and is one of the largest listed companies by market capitalization on the Singapore Exchange.

Wilmar's business activities encompass oil palm cultivation, edible oils refining, oilseed crushing, and consumer pack edible oils processing and merchandising. It also deals with specialty fats, oleochemicals, biodiesel manufacturing, grains processing and merchandising, and sugar milling and refining.

The company operates over 500 manufacturing plants and has an extensive distribution network covering China, Indonesia, India, and nearly 50 other countries. Employing a multinational workforce of more than 100,000 people, Wilmar serves as a key supplier to leading food companies globally.

Companies to Focus on Sustainable Palm Oil Manufacturing Technology in Future

Growing concerns over deforestation, biodiversity loss, and labor rights have led to strict regulations and increased adoption of sustainable palm oil. Certification programs such as the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) and corporate commitments to zero-deforestation policies are anticipated to shape the industry's future, with more companies investing in responsible sourcing.

The demand for renewable energy sources is pushing the use of palm oil in biodiesel production. Countries in Europe and Southeast Asia are implementing biofuel mandates, increasing the market potential for palm-based biodiesel. However, sustainability concerns may lead to policy shifts favoring advanced biofuels over conventional palm oil-based biodiesel.

Trade restrictions, carbon footprint regulations, and import bans on unsustainable palm oil in regions like the European Union (EU) could reshape global trade flows. Producers are hence focusing on compliance and developing alternative markets to mitigate potential disruptions.