Cargill Commits $100M to Expand Specialty Fats Production

American agribusiness Cargill announced Monday that work has started on a $100 million project to expand production of specialty fats at its Port Klang, Malaysia facility. The company will boost the site’s dry palm fractionation capabilities to enable the production of a variety of specialty fats products used in chocolate, spreads, fillings, and other applications.

“Specialty fats are incredibly popular due to their versatility and functionality,” Jennifer Shomenta, president and group leader of the firm’s global edible oils solutions business, in a company release. “With this investment, we’ll be better positioned to support our customers’ innovation journey, equipped with the building blocks necessary to co-create tailored solutions that align with their unique needs.”

Another $20 million expansion effort was started at the location one year ago to increase production capacity and its R&D capabilities. Cargill said the projects will provide the company with an end-to-end sustainable supply chain for the products.

“All too often, brands must navigate complicated supply chains to procure their specialty fats, purchasing oil from one supplier and then shipping it to others for further processing,” said Shomenta. “Through our investments at Port Klang and across our global processing locations, we’ll eliminate those extra steps, giving customers the convenience of a single, trusted partner, all backed by Cargill’s technical expertise and global resources.”

Specialty fats, produced from seeds and tropical oils, are used to improve flavors, mouthfeel, and texture, as well as increase product stability. 

Cargill expects work on the Port Klang facility to reach completion in late 2023. Finished specialty fats produced at the plant will be sold to customers in Asia-Pacific, while semi-finish products will be sent to Cargill plants in Europe, the Americas, Russia, and the Middle East.

Powder & Bulk Solids reported last week that the agribusiness finished work on a $100 million expansion project at its cocoa processing plant in Yopougon, Côte d’Ivoire, making the location the biggest cocoa grinding operation in Africa.