'Palm Oil King' Kuok seeks to expand India foothold after Adani divestment

Cooking oil tycoon Kuok Khoon Hong has expanded his foothold in India after Adani Enterprises has completed the divestment of its stake in edible oil giant AWL, formerly Adani Wilmar Ltd. 

In December, Adani Group has announced it was divesting its shares in AWL to focus on its core infrastructure businesses in renewable energy, transport, and logistics.

The deal was completed in July, as per Forbes.

Now, Kuok 76, famously known as Asia's "Palm Oil King", owns through Wilmar International the majority shares of AWL, which initially started as a 50% joint-venture partner of the Adani Group. 

Consolidation

Wilmar has since consolidated its control over AWL (now around 64% ownership), enabling Kuok and his team to steer the company’s strategic direction independently and expand its footprint in India’s vast FMCG and agri-markets.

Kuok spent more than five decades shaping the palm oil industry and has a personal net worth estimated at $3.8 billion.

This places him among Singapore’s wealthiest entrepreneurs and philanthropists.

He is best known for co-founding and leading Wilmar International, one of Asia's largest agribusiness groups and the world's largest palm oil processor and trader.

Wilmar employs over 92,000 people worldwide and owns palm oil plantations across several countries, including Indonesia, Malaysia, Uganda, Ivory Coast, Ghana, and Nigeria. 

Background

Kuok also chairs Perennial Real Estate Holdings Ltd. Born in Malaysia, Kuok has a strong background in the commodities trading sector and extensive experience in the edible oils and oilseeds business. 

In 2020, Kuok listed Wilmar's Chinese subsidiary, Yihai Kerry Arawana, in a $2.1 billion IPO in 2020 on the Shenzhen stock exchange.

As of 2025, Kuok chairs and serves as CEO of Wilmar, with an estimated market value of around $14.6 billion (18.83 billion SGD).

Kuok’s other investments include stakes in billionaire Zhong Sheng Jian's Yanlord Land as well as Perennial Real Estate Holdings.

Perennial Group is the reported developer behind 1 Undershaft, which will replace the old St Helen's/Aviva Tower in London, creating one of the tallest buildings in London.

Divestment: What is it?

It refers to the process by which a company sells off, disposes of, or transfers ownership of a business unit, division, subsidiary, asset, or investment.

It can involve either partial or complete disposal and is typically done to improve the company's financial position, focus on core operations, reduce debt, comply with regulations, or respond to strategic, political, or social considerations.