Time to Leverage Malaysia’s Palm Oil Biodiesel with Risng Diesel Prices

B20 biodiesel is now cheaper than pure diesel, and the government must fast-track critical depot upgrades to accelerate its rollout and ease surging fuel costs, says Seputeh MP Teresa Kok, reported in Malay Mail, March 29.
In a press statement, the former primary industries minister said palm-based biodiesel has become a more cost-effective alternative to fossil diesel and urged Putrajaya to urgently help the petroleum industry scale up B10 and B20 blending. “We must treat palm oil as a strategic national asset,” she said, adding that failing to upgrade the depots, the government is forcing the rakyat to pay more at the pump while leaving the country’s ‘golden crop’ underutilized.
Citing market data as of March 27, 2026, Kok said palm methyl ester (PME) biodiesel is currently trading below international Euro 5 diesel prices.