Palm oil: Key facts & figures
Palm oil production
Area under cultivation12 million ha (2005)
Global production
35 million metric tonnes
Current share of global vegetable oil production
35%
2015 predicted share of global vegetable oil production
38%
Average annual production growth rate
7% (1996-2006)
Principal producers
Malaysia, Indonesia (90%)
Other major producers: Nigeria, Thailand, Colombia, Cote d'Ivoire, Ecuador
International trade
Global trade volume27 million metric tonnes
Global trade-to-production ratio
75%
Current share of global vegetable oil trade
65%
Predicted 2015 share of global vegetable oil trade
68%
Principal exporters
Indonesia, Malaysia
Principal importers
European Union, India, China, Pakistan, Japan, Singapore, Egypt, Bangladesh
Major environmental impacts
- Habitat conversion, particularly tropical forests
- Soil erosion and degradation
- Threats to key species
- Effluents from processing
Potential to improve
- High
- Land use planning and zoning can reduce many impacts
- Best Management Practices are known
- Investors and buyers are interested in reducing the impact of production
- BMP-based certification programs are in development
Sources: FAO, Tauli-Corpuz and Tamang (2007), Clay (2004)
Except where indicated, all data for 2006.
