6 VEGETABLE OILS IN FOOD TECHNOLOGY

Table 1.4 Four major vegetable oils as % of total oil and fat production
1976/80 1986/90 1999/00 2000/10 2016/20
Soybean oil 21.3 20.2 22.0 22.9 20.2
Palm and pko∗ 7.9 13.8 20.0 24.0 26.3
Rapeseed oil 5.7 9.9 12.0 12.1 12.3
Sunflowerseed oil 8.0 9.6 8.7 8.5 9.2

These figures are derived from Table 1.3.

∗ Palmkernel oil.

Annual production of oils and fats in 2000/01 is expected to be about

117 million tonnes. Given an average price range of $300–500 per tonne, this
indicates a total value of $35–60 billion for the year’s oils and fats production.
In Tables 1.5–1.7 attention is focused on the five years 1996/97 to 2000/01 to
show the most recent trends. These double dates are ‘harvest years’. The earlier
date relates to the harvest of the northern hemisphere and the later figure to that
of the southern hemisphere. Oils and fats come from oilseeds, fruits, and from
animal sources and Table 1.5 gives figures for 10 oilseeds. Most of the seed is

Table 1.5 Global production of 10 oilseeds and of oil and meal derived from these (million tonnes)
during the five-year period 1996/97 to 2000/01
1996/97 1997/98 1998/99 1999/00 2000/01
Production 259.79 285.95 295.38 302.84 306.92
Crushing 222.60 233.36 242.34 251.99 259.27
Oil 57.39 59.73 61.78 65.30 66.80
Meal 149.96 158.63 165.58 171.46 177.63

Source: Mielke 2001.

Table 1.6 Production (million tonnes) of 12 vegetable oils during the five-year period 1996/97 to 2000/01
1996/97 1997/98 1998/99 1999/00 2000/01
Soybean 20.96 23.18 24.60 25.30 26.66
Palm 17.57 17.10 19.36 21.26 23.38
Rapeseed 11.48 12.19 12.56 14.30 14.15
Sunflowerseed 9.11 8.44 9.28 9.57 8.87
Groundnut 4.61 4.36 4.78 4.53 4.86
Cottonseed 4.06 4.13 3.89 3.92 3.89
Coconut 3.14 3.37 2.35 3.09 3.43
Palmkernel 2.19 2.20 2.43 2.63 2.89
Olive 2.77 2.62 2.54 2.35 2.56
Corn 1.85 1.89 1.92 2.00 2.03
Sesame 0.72 0.74 0.72 0.73 0.78
Linseed 0.67 0.68 0.73 0.74 0.72

Source: Mielke 2001.

Oils are cited in decreasing order of production in 2000/01.
 PRODUCTION AND TRADE OF VEGETABLE OILS 7

Table 1.7 Production, disappearance, export and imports (million tonnes) of 17 oils and fats during the
five-year period 1996/97 to 2000/01
1996/97 1997/98 1998/99 1999/00 2000/01
Production 100.14 102.03 107.51 113.44 117.12
Disappearance 99.82 102.37 106.61 112.24 117.54
Per person (kg) 17.1 17.3 17.8 18.5 19.2
Exports 32.04 33.11 34.08 35.10 37.69
Imports 31.40 33.25 33.76 35.42 37.67

Source: Mielke 2001.

crushed, but some is held back as seed for planting and some is used directly for
animal feed or human food. Crushing produces oil and meal. The proportion of
these varies slightly from year to year, depending on the relative amounts of the
various oilseeds with their differing levels of oil.
It should be explained that ‘disappearance’ is a technical term. Applied to
a country/region for a particular year, it is the sum of local production and
imports with deduction of exports and allowance for changes in stocks during
the year in question. It includes human consumption, animal feed, industrial
consumption, and waste, and cannot be equated directly with dietary intake.
Disappearance per person is expressed in kg/year and is available on a world
basis (as in Table 1.7) or for individual countries/regions. Disappearance per
person has shown a steady rise over many years. In the years between 1996/97
and 2000/01, it has risen 12% from 17.1 to 19.2 kg/year. Exports and imports
are at virtually the same level and correspond to 31–32% of total production.
The balance is used in the country where it is produced.
In Tables 1.8–1.19, attention is directed to the production, disappearance and
imports/exports of the 12 vegetable oils described in the other chapters of this
book. Each Table shows the major countries/regions involved. The figures in
the following text apply to year 2000/01. They vary slightly from year to year
but the major features are unlikely to change very quickly. Some major points
from each Table are discussed here, but readers can derive further information
through careful study of the Tables.

1.2.1 Soybean oil

Soybean oil is the oil produced in largest quantity and is second only to palm
oil in traded oil (Table 1.8). There is also a large trade in soybeans but no
comparable trade in palm fruits, which are extracted as soon as possible close to
the point of collection. The major producers of soybean oil are the US, Brazil,
Argentina, China (local beans augmented with imports), and EU-15 (mainly
imported beans). Soybean oil is consumed in every country for which details
8 VEGETABLE OILS IN FOOD TECHNOLOGY

Table 1.8 Major countries/regions involved in the production, disappearance, export and imports (million
tonnes) of soybean oil in 2000/01
Total Major countries/regions
Production 26.66 US 8.24, Brazil 4.28, Argentina 3.28, China 3.26, EU-15 2.87, India 0.75,
Japan 0.71, Mexico 0.70, Taiwan 0.42, Canada 0.30, South Korea 0.22,
Thailand 0.21, other 1.42
Disappearance 26.65 US 7.50, China 3.45, Brazil 3.10, India 1.94, EU-15 1.82, Mexico 0.79,
Iran 0.71, Japan 0.71, Bangladesh 0.50, Taiwan 0.48, other 5.64
Exports 7.45 Argentina 3.20, Brazil 1.30, EU-15 1.07, US 0.73, Iran 0.21,
Malaysia 0.18, Hong Kong 0.17, Bolivia 0.12, other 0.47
Imports 7.44 India 1.20, Iran 0.81, Bangladesh 0.49, Egypt 0.34, Morocco 0.29,
former USSR 0.28, Hong Kong 0.27, China 0.24, Venezuela 0.24,
Pakistan 0.21, other 3.07

Source: Mielke 2001.

are available. Disappearance is generally greatest in the producing countries

with five countries/regions exceeding one million tonnes. These are the US
(28%), China (13%), Brazil (12%), India (7%), and EU-15 (7%). Argentina is
the biggest exporter of soybean oil (43% of total soybean oil exports). Very many
countries import soybean oil with India at the head of the list with 1.20 million
tonnes (16% of total soybean oil imports) in 2000/01.

1.2.2 Palm oil

Palm oil (Table 1.9) now takes second place in the list of oils produced and will
probably overtake soybean oil in another 10–15 years. It is already the oil traded
in largest amount, accounting for 44% of all oil and fat exports. These volumes
have grown considerably in the past 20 years or so (see Table 1.4). Production
and exports are dominated by two South East Asian countries. Malaysia has 51%
of all palm oil production and 63% of palm oil exports; Indonesia has levels
corresponding to 31% and 26% respectively. As indicated previously, Indonesia
has a much larger population than Malaysia (Table 1.1), and therefore exports a
lower proportion of its palm oil. Production is increasing in both countries, and, if
Indonesia can avoid political unrest and economic downturn, then it is expected
to overtake Malaysian production in around 10–15 years. A number of other
countries produce lower levels of palm oil (Table 1.9). Palm oil is consumed in
many countries and this material is important in meeting the rapidly growing
demands of developing countries with increasing population and rising personal
income. The main importers are India, EU-15, China and Pakistan.

1.2.3 Rapeseed/canola oil

Rapeseed/canola oil (Table 1.10) now occupies the third position in rank order
of production of oils and fats. Using local seeds and/or imported seeds the oil