Wilmar International Limited, Asia's leading agribusiness group, reported a notable 26% increase in pre-tax profit to US$937.7 million for the first half of 2025, compared to US$742.2 million in the same period in 2024. This improvement was largely driven by stronger performances in the Plantation & Sugar Milling and Food Products segments. The company's net profit rose by 2.6% to US$594.9 million, up from US$579.6 million in the previous year. However, the core net profit saw a decline of 3.7%, reaching US$583.7 million compared to US$606.3 million in 1H2024. Revenue for the period increased by 6.3% to US$32.89 billion, up from US$30.93 billion in 1H2024. The Food Products segment, which includes Consumer Products, Medium Pack, and Bulk, registered a healthy 34% increase in pre-tax profit to US$195.7 million, driven by better performances in the flour and rice divisions in China and a 4% growth in overall sales volume. Wilmar's Chairman and CEO, Mr. Kuok Khoon Hong, expressed cautious optimism for the remainder of the year, citing expected challenges in refining margins for the tropical oils business but a favorable outlook for the plantations business. The company anticipates stable performance in its crushing operations, with the final results for 2025 contingent on the resolution of operational issues in Indonesia.