New Britain Palm Oil

What New Britain Palm Oil does

New Britain Palm Oil Limited (NBPOL) is a vertically integrated producer of fully traceable, RSPO-certified palm oil products headquartered in Mosa, West New Britain Province, Papua New Guinea, and operating as a wholly-owned subsidiary of SD Guthrie Berhad (formerly Sime Darby Plantation). Founded in 1967, NBPOL manages a 146,000+ hectare land bank with 90,000+ hectares planted across six sites in PNG and Solomon Islands, spanning 50+ estates, 13 palm oil mills, and 7 kernel crushing plants. Beyond palm oil, NBPOL operates PNG's only commercial sugar producer (Ramu Sugar), PNG's largest beef producer (Ramu Premium Beef, ~2.33 million kg annually from a 24,500-head herd), and the globally commercialised Dami oil palm seed business, producing 3 million+ DxP seeds per year from the world-class Dami Research Centre established in the 1970s.

The company's technical core rests on the Dami Research Centre's proprietary seed breeding programmes — DxP seeds, the SuperFamily programme (26% of replanting complete as of December 2024, targeting 54% by 2027 and 30 tonnes/ha yields), and the next-generation GenomeSelect programme planned for 2027 rollout — supported by clonal micropropagation biotechnology and GIS-based Oil Palm Management Programme (OMP) precision agriculture. NBPOL holds the deepest sustainability credential stack in the palm oil sector: first company globally to achieve RSPO certification (2008), 100% RSPO-certified across all six sites and smallholders since 2012, plus ISO 9001/14001/45001/27001, HACCP, Halal, Kosher, SA8000, SEDEX, Rainforest Alliance SAS (only palm oil producer outside Latin America), and Palm Oil Network Switzerland certification.

NBPOL makes money through four primary streams: (1) international sales of crude palm oil, crude palm kernel oil, and specialty palm products (RBD palm olein, stearin, mid fraction, PFAD) routed through SD Guthrie International; (2) domestic PNG sales of RBD palm olein cooking oil, Ramu Sugar products (5 SKUs in bulk/poly/paper/sachet formats), and Ramu Premium Beef via supermarkets, restaurants, and food service; (3) Dami seed licensing/sales to growers globally; and (4) processing of fresh fruit bunches from 17,000+ smallholder blocks (~20% of supply). The company is the largest private-sector employer in PNG and Solomon Islands with over 22,500 personnel, integrates community programmes (Mama Card direct payments, One Hour Principle, Women Empowering Women), and reports under SD Guthrie's group sustainability framework.

Name

New Britain Palm Oil

Legal name

New Britain Palm Oil Limited

Website

https://nbpol.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1967

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

Vertically integrated producer of fully traceable RSPO-certified palm oil, sugar, beef, and oil palm seeds across six sites in Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands. Wholly-owned subsidiary of SD Guthrie Berhad, operating 146,000+ hectares with 22,500+ employees and serving global and domestic PNG markets.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Palm Oil Production

NAICS

Fats and Oils Refining and Blending (311225), Starch and Vegetable Fats and Oils Manufacturing (31122)

SIC

Fats & Oils (2070), Agricultural Production-Crops (100)

akta.pro primary industry

Palm Oil Milling, Refining & Fractionation (AFAKAEAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Tropical Oils & Fractions (Palm, Palm Kernel, Coconut) (AFAJALAD), Fats, Oils & Lipid Ingredients (Specialty Oils, MCTs, Structured Lipids) (CRADAOAL)

Keywords

• RSPO-certified palm oil
• Vertically integrated plantations
• Oil palm seeds
• Commercial sugar production
• Sustainable agriculture PNG

Headquarters

HQ city

Lae

HQ country

Papua New Guinea

HQ region

Oceania

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Palm Oil Sales (International): NBPOL produces crude palm oil, palm kernel oil, and related products. These are sold to international markets through SD Guthrie International (parent company's downstream entity). Products include crude palm oil, crude palm kernel oil, RBD palm oil, RBD palm olein, RBD palm stearin, palm mid fraction, and palm fatty acid distillate.
2. Palm Oil Sales (Domestic PNG): RBD palm olein (IV56, IV60) and cooking oil products are distributed for domestic and commercial use in PNG markets. Cooking oil in PET bottles launched end 2022.
3. Sugar Sales (Ramu Sugar Brand): Ramu Sugar produces natural mill white sugar, Ramu Gold sugar, Ramu castor sugar, Ramu soft brown sugar, and Ramu raw sugar. Distributed in PNG domestic market via bulk bags, poly packs, paper packs, sachets and sticks.
4. Beef Sales (Ramu Premium Beef): NBPOL is PNG's largest beef producer with ~2.33 million kg of beef annually for the national PNG market. Beef is processed at Gusap abattoir and sold directly by the abattoir or through PNG supermarkets and restaurants.
5. Oil Palm Seed Sales (Dami Seeds): Dami oil palm DxP seeds are commercially available to other growers globally. Seeds deliver high early yields and exceptional oil extraction rates. Over 3 million Dami seeds produced annually.

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

New Britain Palm Oil Limited (NBPOL) is a vertically integrated producer of fully traceable, RSPO-certified sustainable palm oil products, operating across 146,000+ hectares of land bank in Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands. Beyond palm oil commodities (crude palm oil, RBD palm olein, palm stearin, PFAD), NBPOL produces Ramu Sugar branded sugar products as the only commercial sugarcane producer in PNG, Ramu Premium Beef from 24,500 cattle as PNG's largest beef producer, and commercial Dami oil palm planting seeds sold globally to other growers.

Product overview

NBPOL is a vertically integrated producer of fully traceable, RSPO-certified palm oil products with diversified operations across palm oil, sugar, beef, and oil palm seeds. The core product portfolio includes palm oil commodities (crude palm oil, crude palm kernel oil, RBD palm oil, RBD palm olein, palm stearin, palm mid fraction, PFAD) sold to international markets and consumer-branded products (cooking oil) for local PNG markets. The sugar division produces Ramu Sugar branded products including natural mill white, Ramu Gold, castor, soft brown, and raw sugar exclusively for PNG domestic consumption. The beef operation produces Ramu Premium Beef from approximately 24,500 head of cattle. The seeds business commercialises world-class Dami oil palm planting materials globally, including SuperFamily and upcoming GenomeSelect seed programmes. Research and development capabilities through Dami Research Centre and Sugar Research Services support all product lines.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Ramu Sugar: Brand name for NBPOL's commercial sugarcane products including natural mill white sugar, Ramu Gold sugar, Ramu castor sugar, Ramu soft brown sugar, and Ramu raw sugar.
• Ramu Premium Beef
• Dami

Products and services

• Crude Palm Oil Primary commodity product made by crushing palm fruit flesh, clarifying and drying. Natural vegetable oil used in food preparation and confectionery manufacturing. Supplied to international markets.
• Crude Palm Kernel Oil Lauric oil extracted from palm kernels/seeds. Used as feedstock for oleochemicals, food products, animal feed products. Supplied to international markets.
• RBD Palm Olein IV56 Refined palm olein fraction for packaging and distribution of domestic and commercial cooking oils, manufacturing of shortening and margarine. Suitable for snacks, confectionery, baking and dairy products. Supplied to local PNG markets.
• RBD Palm Olein IV60 Refined palm olein fraction well suited for frying applications including household salad and cooking oil, instant noodle industrial frying fat, deep frying (chips and crisps), and tempura.
• RBD Palm Stearin By-product from standard olein fractionation. Used for food and non-food applications including margarine hard stock, pastry fat, shortening, soap manufacture and confectionery fat.
• Palm Mid Fraction By-product from super olein fractionation. Applications include ganache-type confectionery, biscuits, and frying oil.
• Palm Fatty Acid Distillate (PFAD) Oleochemicals utilisation for soap products, detergent, food-based emulsifiers and biofuel. Also used as replacement for petrochemicals.
• Ramu Cooking Oil Consumer cooking oil launched in 2022 in PET bottle packaging (1L, 500ml, 250ml) for local PNG markets.
• Ramu Natural Mill White Sugar High-grade sugar with natural light brown colour and slight honey taste. Used as sweetener and in cooking. Available in bulk bags (50kg), poly packs (1kg, 500g, 250g), paper packs (1kg), and sachets/sticks (7g, 4g).
• Ramu Gold Sugar High-grade sugar with soft caramel flavour. Used for desserts, cakes, coffees and sauces. Available in poly packs (500g) and sticks (4g).
• Ramu Castor Sugar Natural fine crystal sugar with slight honey taste. Used for baking, sauces and dessert toppings. Available in poly packs (500g).
• Ramu Soft Brown Sugar Smaller fine-grade crystal sugar with rich caramel flavour. Soft and dissolves easily. Used in general cooking and baking; can be added to fresh fruit.
• Ramu Raw Sugar Light golden brown raw sugar with mild caramel taste. Not heavily refined with higher molasses content. Ideal as topping for pastries and desserts. Available in poly packs (500g).
• Ramu Premium Beef Premium beef product from 24,500 head of cattle raised in Markham grasslands. Average 2.33 million kilograms annually for national PNG market. Sold directly through abattoir and PNG supermarkets/restaurants.
• Dami Oil Palm DxP Seeds World-class oil palm planting material produced at Dami seed production unit. Delivers earlier and higher oil yield rates (30+ tonnes per hectare of fresh fruit bunches within 48 months). Disease-free seeds from West New Britain. Available commercially to other growers globally.
• SuperFamily Seeds Advanced oil palm seed programme with improved yield characteristics. 26% of SuperFamily seed replanting complete as of 2024, expected to boost yield to 30 tonnes/ha after six planting years.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% RSPO-certified (since 2012) across all 6 sites and smallholders
• +11 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature10 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• NasfundcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 November 2020Nasfund partnership enables oil palm smallholders in West New Britain to participate in retirement savings through the Eda Supa product. Over 1,000 growers signed up initially. Nasfund COO described it as a 'blueprint' for engaging smallholder growers. WNB contributed K100,000 as initial payment for smallholder superannuation contributions.
• Toledo ZoominorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020NBPOL formed a partnership with Toledo Zoo to build and run a conservation breeding centre for Santa Cruz Ground Doves. GPPOL donated land at Tetere for the facility. Toledo Zoo is financing construction and upkeep and recruiting/training animal keepers. Long-term plan is to use captive-bred birds for reintroduction.
• Rainforest AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 May 2018Rainforest Alliance presented NBPOL with the Sustainable Pathfinder Award in May 2018 at their 31st Spring Gala in New York City. NBPOL was the first palm oil company to receive this award. NBPOL also achieved Rainforest Alliance Sustainable Agriculture Standard (SAS) certification, being the only palm oil producer outside Latin America to achieve this certification.
• Nestlé GermanyminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018NBPOL partnered with Nestlé Germany and Earthworm Foundation to direct clean water to villages surrounding HOP operations. During 2018 and 2019, 28 water pumps were installed, benefiting approximately 7,350 community members.
• Earthworm FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018NBPOL partnered with Nestlé Germany and Earthworm Foundation on the water community project at Higaturu. Earthworm Foundation collaborates on sourcing and sustainability initiatives. During 2018 and 2019, 28 water pumps were installed benefiting approximately 7,350 community members.
• Conservation and Environment Protection Authority (CEPA)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017CEPA closely tracks the QABB breeding project's progress and approved permits to handle and breed birdwing butterflies in captivity. CEPA declared the Managalas Plateau a Conservation Area in 2017, now a protected National Park.
• ACIAR (International Agricultural Research)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017ACIAR commissioned a four-year forestry research project to support PNG's Forest Policy to increase planted forests from 62,000 to 150,000 hectares by 2025. Ramu Agri Ltd.'s sustainability department is a key implementing partner. The project aims to design and test tree-based livelihood systems for family-focused community reforestation.
• University of the Sunshine Coast (Australia)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017University of the Sunshine Coast manages the ACIAR-commissioned community forestry research project in collaboration with government, NGO, private sector and community partners in PNG. Project aims to enhance and scale up PNG's community forestry.
• NBPOL Foundation (NBPOF)coreOthers · 1 January 2013Established in 1997 as a registered charity in PNG. NBPOF facilitates better health and education outcomes and alleviates poverty in PNG and Solomon Islands. Supports community projects, health establishments, and the One Hour Principle initiative ensuring communities have access to schooling, water and health within 1-hour walk.
• Business Coalition for Women (BCFW)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2011The NBPOL Women Empowering Women initiative is actively engaged in the Against Violence working group of the BCFW. Two successful initiatives developed by the working group are the Gender Smart Safety Toolkit and the Gender Smart Audit. NBPOL was the first agriculture sector company to participate.
• Zoological Society of London (ZSL)minorOthersNBPOL is annually assessed in the Sustainable Palm Oil Transparency Toolkit (SPOTT) developed by ZSL to encourage transparency and track progress against sustainability targets. NBPOL ranked #1 out of 100 companies in the 2020 assessment with a score of 94.4%.
• Partners with Melanesians (PWM)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNBPOL works with Partners with Melanesians (PWM) to help in butterfly conservation efforts in the Managalas Plateau Conservation Area for QABB protection.
• SD Guthrie Plantation Berhad (Parent Company)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNBPOL is a wholly-owned subsidiary of SD Guthrie Plantation Berhad. NBPOL's upstream operations are integrated with SD Guthrie's downstream entity (Sime Darby Oils) for refinery and international distribution. NBPOL is guided by SD Guthrie's Responsible Agriculture Charter, Human Rights Charter, Code of Business Conduct, and sustainability policies.
• PNG Oil Palm Research Association (PNGOPRA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNBPOL's Head of R&D serves as PNGOPRA's Director of Research. PNGOPRA manages the country's Oil Palm Research Association, the research arm of PNG's oil palm industry. NBPOL and PNGOPRA's research work is primarily interlinked, operated at Dami with substations throughout the country.
• West New Britain Health AuthorityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Women Empowering Women (WEW) association works with the West New Britain Health Authority to extend female healthcare initiatives and supports maintenance of the Kimbe Urban Clinic.
• National Aids Council (PNG)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNBPOL is a member of the National Aids Council in PNG and implements measures under a dedicated HIV/AIDS policy to protect employees and their families.

Scale indicators24 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• First Resources Limited: Indonesian palm oil producer with integrated plantations, mills, and downstream processing. Direct peer in upstream palm oil cultivation and milling operations supplying international food manufacturers.
• FGV Holdings Berhad: Malaysian palm oil producer with one of the largest planted hectarage footprints globally. Direct peer for upstream palm oil scale and smallholder integration model across the Malaysian industry.
• Kuala Lumpur Kepong Berhad (KLK): Malaysian integrated plantation group with significant palm oil operations alongside rubber and oleochemicals. Direct peer in upstream cultivation, milling, and downstream refining for food and industrial customers.
• Wilmar International: World's largest palm oil processor and a major vertically integrated grower-refiner with extensive plantations across Indonesia, Malaysia, and Africa. Direct peer given similar end-to-end palm oil supply chain and customer base in food manufacturing and oleochemicals.
• Astra Agro Lestari: Indonesian integrated palm oil producer with extensive plantations, mills, and downstream operations. Direct peer in upstream cultivation and CPO production supplying international food and oleochemical markets.
• Golden Agri-Resources (Sinar Mas): Indonesia's largest palm oil company with vertically integrated operations spanning plantations, mills, refining, and branded consumer products. Direct peer in upstream-to-downstream palm oil model and international food manufacturing customer base.
• United Plantations Berhad: Malaysian integrated palm oil producer widely regarded as an RSPO sustainability leader with vertically integrated plantations, mills, and downstream operations. Closest peer to NBPOL on sustainability credentials and integrated scale.
• IOI Corporation Berhad: Malaysian integrated palm oil producer and refiner with plantations, mills, and specialty fat operations. Direct peer in upstream palm oil cultivation and downstream refining of RBD palm olein, stearin, and specialty fats for food manufacturers.
• Musim Mas Holdings: Vertically integrated palm oil group with plantations, mills, refineries, and oleochemical plants across Indonesia and Malaysia. Direct peer for end-to-end palm oil processing and international food/oleochemical customer base.
• SD Guthrie Berhad: Parent company and one of the world's largest integrated palm oil players. Operates similar upstream plantation, milling, and downstream refining across Malaysia, Indonesia, and PNG, making it the most direct comparable to NBPOL's integrated model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights1 record

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/new-britain-palm-oil-ltd

Compliance10 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Subsidiaries7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about New Britain Palm Oil