The 9th RSPO China Forum Highlights China's Pivotal Role in Driving a Responsible Global Supply Chain

GUILIN, China, July 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The 9th RSPO China Forum, held in Guilin recently, gathered stakeholders from across the palm oil supply chain to discuss advancements and challenges in promoting RSPO Certified sustainable palm oil (CSPO) in China. It also marked a decade of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil's (RSPO) presence in China.

Since officially commencing operations in 2015, RSPO membership in China has grown to 480 members, reflecting rising awareness of the critical role sustainable palm oil plays in driving economic growth, environmental protection, and alignment with global sustainability commitments.

China, currently the world's second-largest importer and third-largest consumer of palm oil, imported 4.36 million tonnes of palm oil in 2024, with RSPO Certified palm oil accounting for approximately 500,000 tonnes. A key milestone in the market's transformation was the first-ever shipment of RSPO Identity Preserved (IP) certified sustainable palm oil (CSPO) in November 2024, led by Yili Group and Yihai Kerry.

"The past decade has witnessed China evolve from an emerging market into a key driver of global demand for sustainable palm oil," said Fang Lifeng, Head of China, Market Transformation, RSPO. "This momentum is increasingly fuelled by national policy, consumer expectations, and corporate ESG strategies."

In her opening remarks, Inke van der Sluijs, RSPO Director of Market Transformation, stated, "China's growing influence is crucial in shaping global palm oil sustainability and promoting responsible sourcing practices. Its commitment is increasingly driving international markets towards sustainable palm oil solutions. RSPO remains deeply committed to advancing sustainability further in China, whose emergence as a global sustainability champion over the past 10 years has been remarkable."

The forum also convened RSPO member companies from both producing and consuming countries to explore collaborative strategies aimed at aligning supply and demand, ultimately driving forward the sustainable production and consumption of palm oil globally."Let every drop of palm oil carry a green mission — striving for a sustainable future for people, biodiversity, and the planet", remarked by Zhu Chunxian, QA Director, Shanghai Ezaki Glico Foods Co., Ltd during this panel discussion.

With international regulations such as the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR)  taking effect by the end of 2025, together with market driven sustainability voluntary standards, compliance and supply chain transparency are becoming competitive advantages for Chinese enterprises. As more companies adopt these trends, China is well positioned to lead on responsible and green sourcing, contributing to the overall growth in the production, trade and consumption of sustainable palm oil.

About RSPO:
The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) is a global partnership to make palm oil sustainable. Formed in 2004, the RSPO is a multi-stakeholder non-profit organisation that unites members from across the palm oil value chain, including oil palm producers, palm oil processors and traders, consumer goods manufacturers, retailers, banks and investors, environmental or nature conservation non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and social or developmental NGOs.

As a partnership for progress and positive impact, the RSPO facilitates global change to make the production and consumption of palm oil sustainable. To inspire change, we communicate the environmental and social benefits. To make progress, we catalyse collaboration. To provide assurance, we set the standards of certification.

The RSPO is registered as an international association in Zurich, Switzerland, with main offices in Malaysia and Indonesia, and offices in China, Colombia, Netherlands, United Kingdom and the United States.