Strengthening buyer-supplier relationships for certified sustainable palm oil: the next step for Chinese brands

The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil and the China Sustainable Palm Oil Alliance have been advocating for greater supply chain traceability and encouraging Chinese buyers to deepen their support for certified growers on the ground, including in Southeast Asia. As China’s influence as a key player in global commodity supply chains grows, so too does its responsibility in shaping sustainability outcomes at the source. China’s demand for palm oil has surged in recent years, with growing volumes being sourced directly from major producers in Southeast Asia. Consistently strong trade ties have been maintained with exporters in Indonesia and Malaysia, while Thailand – now the world’s third largest exporter of palm oil – sees China as one of its major export markets. Yet at the same time, deforestation linked to palm oil cultivation continues in these key Southeast Asian production hubs. Even as the latest data shows a decline in primary forest loss in 2024 in both Indonesia and ...