Cargill expands edible oil plant in Malaysia

SINGAPORE — Cargill has completed a multimillion-dollar investment to expand its edible oil plant in Port Klang, Malaysia. 

Cargill said the expansion includes a new specialty fats production line, which will allow the facility to produce a range of cocoa butter equivalents, low-trans fatty acid cocoa butter replacers, and specialty fats for chocolate confectionery, frying, baking or fillings applications.

“The new production line at our Port Klang facility supports customers with reliable access to high-quality, versatile specialty fats,” said Kashan Rashid, vice president and managing director of Cargill’s Food Southeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand. “As food producers navigate evolving cocoa and ingredient markets, our expanded specialty fats portfolio provides an alternative solution with greater flexibility to optimize formulations while maintaining consistent taste and texture. This strengthens our ability to work with chocolate, confectionery, bakery and dairy customers as a trusted supplier and innovation partner.”

Cargill said the facility expansion enhances its specialty fats portfolio with a broader range of solutions under its existing brands, including Coconera, Olinera NH, Ocolna and CremoFlex. In addition, Cargill said it plans to introduce two new brands — Cargill Bakefry and Cargill Bakefill — with semi-customized specialty fat blends to help customers respond to shifting market needs.

Cargill Bakefry is a high-performance frying fat designed for foodservice and quick-service restaurant operators. Cargill said Bakefry delivers “excellent frying stability and reduced oil weeping to help fried products, such as donuts, maintain quality from fryer to consumer.”

Cargill Bakefill is a specialty fat for fillings such as buttercream and bakery cream. Cargill said Bakefill helps cakes stay moist by keeping syrup and fat well emulsified, reducing separation and improving filling stability for consistent quality.

Cargill operates two edible oil facilities in Malaysia. The facilities are supported by global sourcing of palm-based and specialty oils. The Port Klang site is the first within Cargill’s global edible oils network to deploy specialty fats processing technology, strengthening its capability to deliver a more diverse product portfolio.

The investment in the Port Klang facility follows expansions in 2021 and 2020 designed to expand and modernize the facility.

Cargill has been conducting business in Malaysia since 1978. Today, the company’s businesses include vegetable oil refining and production of value-added products, grain and oilseeds distribution, sales of starches, sweeteners and texturizers as well as sales and marketing of cocoa and chocolate products. Headquartered in Kuala Lumpur, Cargill Malaysia currently employs about 560 people in three locations countrywide.