Wilmar

Chairman’s Message

FY2018 IN REVIEW

I am pleased to report that the Group performed well in FY2018 despite declining commodity prices and volatility in the soybeans market arising from the US-China trade tensions.

The Group recorded a 27.4% jump in core net profit to US$1.30 billion in FY2018, with earnings per share of 17.8 US cents. Revenue increased 2.1% to US$44.50 billion. The Group’s balance sheet remains strong, with total assets standing at US$45.68 billion while shareholders’ funds amounted to US$16.05 billion.

Planet

We have effluent ponds in our palm oil mills to collect waste-water generated by milling activities. All effluent and waste-water are treated to an environmentally safe quality to ensure they do not affect the water quality if discharged into natural waterways. We primarily utilise effluent for land irrigation or as a form of organic fertiliser.

Images (top right and bottom right) from one of 30 wildlife camera traps in our conservation areas. We monitor and protect approximately 30,000 ha of conservation area in Indonesia, Malaysia, Ghana and Nigeria, using a combination of manual monitoring as well as smart satellite and Global Positioning System-based monitoring tools.

We have 23 methane capture-utilisation facilities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from palm oil mill effluent. Biogas is captured for flaring (below) or electricity generation, to provide alternative sources of electricity for our operations and to reduce our overall fossil fuel consumption.

We are one of few oil palm companies that have government-appointed Honorary Wildlife Rangers and Wildlife Wardens deployed in Sabah and Sarawak, Malaysia.

Replanting is carried out mechanically with zero burning. The trees are felled by excavators, the palm trunk and fronds are chipped and shredded to pieces and left to decompose to replenish soil organic matter and improve fertility, hence reducing the use of chemical fertilisers.

To minimise our reliance on chemicals, we adopt an integrated pest management system comprising a combination of natural and mechanical pest reduction strategies, including the introduction of natural predators.

People

Education is key in improving the livelihoods of future generations. We aim to provide access to quality education for all children of our plantation workers and those in our local communities. Our schools provide facilities such as libraries, computer rooms, science labs as well as extra-curricular activities.

People

Education is key in improving the livelihoods of future generations. We aim to provide access to quality education for all children of our plantation workers and those in our local communities. Our schools provide facilities such as libraries, computer rooms, science labs as well as extra-curricular activities.

All of our plantation workers, both permanent and temporary including their families, have access to free healthcare at Wilmar-funded estate clinics.

Apart from fair wages, our permanent plantation workers and their immediate family enjoy free housing and access to facilities such as places of worship, clinics and playgrounds.

The inclusion of smallholders in a sustainable supply chain is a priority for Wilmar. We support the empowerment of smallholders through building knowledge and technical capacities on best agricultural practices so that they can benefit from better extraction rates and pricing.

We are committed to local talent development through capacity building and a proactive equal opportunities policy.

Workers who handle chemicals undergo extensive and ongoing training. It is mandatory that they wear personal protective equipment on site, shower after each work shift and are subject to regular health check-ups.