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Martua Sitorus

Martua Sitorus

M. Sitorus
0.06% | + $1.98M
$3.59 B ₹ 32,655 Cr
Real Time Net Worth #1178 Ranking as of 21 Feb 2026 By Forbes

More on Martua Sitorus

Gender

Male

Age

66Y

Country

Indonesia

Born On

February, 1960

Deceased

No

Relationship Status

Married

Children

4

Education

Unknown

Designation Info :

Self-Made

Yes

Entrepreneur Type

Self-Made (Palm Oil)

Primary Organization

Wilmar International

Titles

Co-Founder

Sources of Wealth

Wilmar International

Industry

Agribusiness, Palm Oil, Food & Beverage, Commodities

About Martua Sitorus


M artua Sitorus, also known by his Chinese name Thio Seeng Haap, is a self-made Indonesian agribusiness tycoon. He is the co-founder of Wilmar International, one of the world's largest and most powerful palm oil and agribusiness companies. In 1991, he partnered with Kuok Khoon Hong (the nephew of Malaysian tycoon Robert Kuok) to establish Wilmar. They started as a small palm oil trading and refining business and, through aggressive expansion and vertical integration, built it into a global giant.

Wilmar is a dominant force in the global agricultural commodity market. The company is the world's largest processor and merchandiser of palm and lauric oils, a major producer of edible oils and sugar, and has significant operations in specialty fats, oleochemicals, and biofuels. The Singapore-listed company's operations span the entire supply chain, from cultivating oil palm plantations to processing and distributing a wide range of food products. Although Sitorus stepped down from his executive role at Wilmar in 2018, he retains a substantial ownership stake, which is the foundation of his immense fortune. He also has interests in property development through his family office.

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Quick Reads


  • Co-founder of Wilmar International, one of the world's largest palm oil companies.
  • He founded the company in 1991 with his partner, Kuok Khoon Hong.
  • Wilmar is a global giant in agribusiness, also involved in sugar and biofuels.
  • He stepped down from his executive role in 2018 but remains a major shareholder.
  • Also has interests in real estate through his private holding company.

Early Life and Background


Martua Sitorus is an Indonesian businessman, the self-made billionaire Co-founder and former executive of Wilmar International (SGX: F34), one of Asia's largest agri-business conglomerates (specializing in palm oil, sugar, and edible oils). His career is rooted in commodity trading and industrial agriculture.

Sitorus's philosophical approach centers on vertical integration, operational efficiency, and scale manufacturing to dominate the essential food and commodity supply chains. He co-founded Wilmar in 1991 with Kuok Khoon Hong (nephew of Robert Kuok), recognizing the immense, untapped global potential of the palm oil sector.

  • Wilmar International (Co-founder & Former Executive): The core publicly traded asset, a global leader in agri-business (specializing in palm oil, sugar, and edible oils).
  • Industrial Focus: His success is built on scale manufacturing and vertical integration across the palm oil supply chain (from plantations to processing and consumer packaging).
  • Controversy: His career has been marked by controversies related to land use and deforestation (reflecting the high-risk environment of the palm oil industry).
  • Investment Strategy: His philosophy is rooted in long-term investment in agricultural land and commodity processing assets.

Career Journey of Martua Sitorus


Martua Sitorus's strategic genius was his commitment to vertical integration in the palm oil sector. He co-founded Wilmar International in 1991, building one of the largest palm oil refinery networks in the world and diversifying into sugar, flour, and rice. His structural contribution is immense: pioneering the industrial scale and efficiency of the global palm oil supply chain.

He stepped down from Wilmar's executive board in 2018 to focus on his own ventures, including Gamaliel Group (real estate and other investments). His wealth is secured by the colossal, long-term, stable profitability of the global food and commodity sector and his substantial equity stake in Wilmar.

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Martua Sitorus's Timeline


1991:

Co-founds Wilmar International with Kuok Khoon Hong (Founding).

2006:

Wilmar executes its successful IPO on the SGX (Financial Milestone).

2018 (July):

Steps down from Wilmar's Executive Board (Executive Transition).

Ongoing:

Continues as Co-founder and major shareholder, managing his private investment firm (Executive Oversight).

Major Business Ventures and Investments


Martua Sitorus's wealth is concentrated in his founding equity and retained stake in the publicly traded agri-business giant, Wilmar International (SGX: F34), and his private investment firm.

  • Wilmar International (Co-founder & Former Executive): The core publicly traded asset, a global leader in agri-business (specializing in palm oil, sugar, and edible oils).
  • Industrial Focus: His success is built on scale manufacturing and vertical integration across the palm oil supply chain (from plantations to processing and consumer packaging).
  • Gamaliel Group (Founder): His private investment company focused on real estate and diversified assets.
  • Investment Strategy: His philosophy is rooted in long-term investment in agricultural land and commodity processing assets.

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Philanthropy and Social Impact


Martua Sitorus's social impact is structural, stemming from Wilmar International's role as a massive global employer and foundational provider of essential food commodities for billions globally. His company contributes significantly to global food security. His personal philanthropy supports various community and educational initiatives.

His structural contribution is tied to the successful industrialization and scale of the global palm oil supply chain, despite the ongoing environmental scrutiny.

Fashion, Style, and Lifestyle


Martua Sitorus maintains the professional, composed style of an industrial executive. His attire is consistently formal and high-quality, favoring tailored business suits. His aesthetic reflects serious authority and stability, typical of a leader in the high-capital commodity sector.

Residing in Singapore, his luxury is the immense security and financial reward derived from his multi-billion dollar fortune. His life is dedicated to industrial scale, commodity trading mastery, and investment strategy.

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Quotes and Philosophy


No publicly available quotes.

Fun Facts & Trivia


  • He is the Co-founder of Wilmar International (agri-business giant).
  • His company is a global leader in palm oil, sugar, and edible oils.
  • He stepped down from the executive board in 2018 to focus on his private ventures.
  • He is known for his aggressive vertical integration across the palm oil supply chain.
  • His structural wealth is tied to the successful monetization and scale of agricultural commodities.
  • He holds an estimated net worth of $3.5 billion (2024 estimate).
  • His philosophy emphasizes operational efficiency and resource control.

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Sources & References


This profile is compiled from verified biographical and financial records:

  • Wealth Data: Real-time tracking and historical data from Forbes Billionaires and the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
  • Biographical Records: Educational and career history sourced from Reuters, The Wall Street Journal, and official university alumni directories.
  • Regulatory Filings: Shareholder and executive disclosures from stock exchange databases, including HKEX, SSE, SZSE, and SEC EDGAR.
  • Corporate History: Primary data from annual company reports, founding charters, and verified press announcements.

All information is cross-referenced with public sources for accuracy; some narrative sections are AI-assisted summaries.

If you find any inaccuracies, please report them to admin@redcarpetlife.in

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