Cargill is expanding its edible oil facility in Port Klang, Malaysia, with a new specialty fats production line.
The company said the multi-million-dollar project will increase the breadth of its specialty fats range globally.
It also aims to strengthen the food solutions it supplies to customers making chocolate confectionery, bakery and dairy products for varied market needs.
Cargill said the enlarged site will use advanced palm oil processing to produce cocoa butter equivalents, low-trans fatty acid cocoa butter replacers and other specialty fats used in applications including chocolate confectionery, frying, baking and fillings.
The company linked the move to the rise of delivery and takeaway, where manufacturers and foodservice operators are looking for products that help maintain taste and texture during preparation, holding and transport.
The company said the expansion will extend its existing portfolio under brands including Coconera, Olinera NH, Ocolna and CremoFLEX.
It also said it is introducing new brands based on semi-customised blends, including Cargill Bakefry for frying applications in foodservice and quick-service restaurants, and Cargill Bakefill for fillings such as buttercream and bakery cream.
Cargill vice president and managing director of food in Southeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand Kashan Rashid said: “The new production line at our Port Klang facility supports customers with reliable access to high-quality, versatile specialty fats.
“As food producers navigate evolving cocoa and ingredient markets, our expanded specialty fats portfolio provides an alternative solution with greater flexibility to optimise 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 operates two edible oil facilities in Malaysia which it said support its global specialty fats operations, supplying customers across Asia Pacific and EMEA.
The company added that these operations are supported by global sourcing of palm-based oils and specialty oils such as shea, which are further processed into ingredients for food applications.
Cargill also said Port Klang is the first site in its global edible oils network to deploy its specialty fats processing technology.
The plant also houses the company’s Lipid R&D centre, which it said supports product and process development with customers through analytical capabilities, performance evaluation and optimisation.
The latest expansion follows a previous $20m investment made in 2020 to expand and modernise the same facility.
