Singapore's Wilmar profit rises on feed and industrial products boost (updated)

Wilmar International

26/02/2026 09:51

Wilmar's annual core net profit misses estimates at $1.28 billion, but rises yoy

Feed and industrial products segment sees 4% pre-tax profit rise

Wilmar's plantations and sugar milling unit profits rise by 32%

Recasts throughout, adds context, details on results and outlook in para 1-6

Feb 26 (Reuters) - Singapore-listed Wilmar International WLIL.SI on Thursday missed estimates for annual core net profit and warned that operating conditions in 2026 will remain challenging as geopolitical tensions and trade tariffs reshape global supply chains.

Wilmar faced issues in several markets during the year while it operated in a complex global environment, said chairman and CEO Kuok Khoon Hong.

"Geopolitical tensions, trade tariffs and evolving regulatory landscapes have required us to adapt our supply chain and business model," he said, also cautioning that such pressures are likely to persist into 2026.

Singapore was hit by U.S. President Donald Trump's 10% base tariffs on imports in early April, and markets now await clarity on the tariff landscape after Trump threatened temporary tariffs of 15% to replace the levies struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court earlier this month.

The company, one of the world's largest food producers, posted a core net profit of $1.28 billion for the 12 months ended December 31,  missing the Visible Alpha consensus of $1.31 billion.

A 10% decline in Wilmar's food products segment also weighed on earnings.

However, the agribusiness giant's profit was still higher than the $1.16 billion reported a year earlier, as its feed and industrial products segment recovered in the second half.

Pre‑tax profit from the company’s feed and industrial products segment, which includes tropical oils, oilseeds, grains and sugar production, rose 4% as crushing margins improved in the second half and sugar merchandising generated higher income.

However, lower sugar sales volumes in the second half weighed on the division overall, leaving full‑year sales volumes for the company's biggest revenue generating segment down 1%.

Meanwhile, profit from its plantations and sugar milling unit improved by 32%, helped by higher palm oil prices and stronger volume of sugar sales during the first half of the year.

The company also proposed a final dividend of S$0.10 per share, same as the amount declared a year earlier.

 (Reporting by Shruti Agarwal and Jasmeen Ara Shaikh in Bengaluru; Editing by Maju Samuel and Devika Syamnath)

 ((JasmeenAraIslam.Shaikh@thomsonreuters.com; Shruti.Agarwal@thomsonreuters.com))