PRODUCTION AND TRADE OF VEGETABLE OILS 9

Table 1.9 Major countries/regions involved in the production, disappearance, export and imports (million
tonnes) of palm oil in 2000/01
Total Major countries/regions
Production 23.38 Malaysia 11.98, Indonesia 7.33, Nigeria 0.75, Colombia 0.54,
Thailand 0.53, Papua New Guinea 0.30, Ivory Coast 0.27, Ecuador 0.25,
other 1.43
Disappearance 23.20 India 4.12, Indonesia 2.95, EU-15 2.50, China 1.79, Malaysia 1.50,
Pakistan 1.17, Nigeria 0.87, Thailand 0.50, Egypt 0.45, Colombia 0.44,
Japan 0.37, Bangladesh 0.25, Turkey 0.24, Ivory Coast 0.21, Kenya 0.21,
South Korea 0.21, Saudi Arabia 0.21, South Africa 0.20, Ecuador 0.20,
Myanmar 0.20, other 4.61
Exports 16.75 Malaysia 10.58, Indonesia 4.32, Papua New Guinea 0.29, Singapore 0.24,
Hong Kong 0.23, other 1.09
Imports 16.64 India 4.03, EU-15 2.62, China 1.86, Pakistan 1.17, Egypt 0.53, Japan 0.38,
Singapore 0.38, Hong Kong 0.25, Bangladesh 0.24, Turkey 0.24,
Kenya 0.22, Myanmar 0.22, Saudi Arabia 0.22, South Africa 0.21,
South Korea 0.21, other 2.86

Source: Mielke 2001.

Table 1.10 Major countries/regions involved in the production, disappearance, export and imports
(million tonnes) of rapeseed oil in 2000/01
Total Major countries/regions
Production 14.15 China 4.53, EU-15 3.68, India 1.60, Canada 1.30, Japan 0.93,
Central Europe 0.62, Mexico 0.37, US 0.32, Pakistan 0.24,
Bangladesh 0.15, Australia 0.15, other 0.25
Disappearance 14.28 China 4.59, EU-15 3.34, India 1.67, Japan 0.95, US 0.76,
Central Europe 0.67, Canada 0.60, Mexico 0.42, Pakistan 0.26,
former USSR 0.25, other 0.77
Exports 1.65 Canada 0.79, EU-15 0.36, Hong Kong 0.17, US 0.12, other 0.21
Imports 1.64 US 0.54, Hong Kong 0.26, China 0.13, former USSR 0.13, other 0.58

Source: Mielke 2001.

is produced mainly in China, EU-15, India, Canada, and Japan. Only 12% of
the oil is then exported, mainly from Canada which accounts for 48% of all
rapeseed oil exports. The major importer is the US. There is also a strong trade
in the seeds which is not covered by these figures.

1.2.4 Sunflowerseed oil

Sunflowerseed oil (Table 1.11) is the last member of the group of four major
oils and fats. It maintains its share at about 9% of the total but has achieved
very variable levels over the past five years (Table 1.4). It is available as oil
of differing fatty acids composition detailed in Chapter 5, but these are taken
10 VEGETABLE OILS IN FOOD TECHNOLOGY

Table 1.11 Major countries/regions involved in the production, disappearance, export and imports
(million tonnes) of sunflower seed oil in 2000/01
Total Major countries/regions
Production 8.87 Former USSR 2.40, EU-15 2.04, Argentina 1.60, Central Europe 0.70,
Turkey 0.47, US 0.37, India 0.25, China 0.22, South Africa 0.29, other 0.53
Disappearance 9.17 EU-15 2.08, former USSR 1.98, Central Europe 0.76, India 0.72,
Turkey 0.54, Argentina 0.54, South Africa 0.37, Algeria 0.23, China 0.21,
US 0.16, Mexico 0.16, other 1.42
Exports 2.37 Argentina 1.18, former USSR 0.53, US 0.24, EU-15 0.16,
Central Europe 0.11, other 0.16
Imports 2.39 India 0.45, Algeria 0.23, EU-15 0.17, Mexico 0.16, Egypt 0.15, Iran 0.14,
Central Europe 0.13, other 0.96

Source: Mielke 2001.

together in the data presented here. The major producers are the former USSR,
EU-15, and Argentina. About 27% of the oil is exported, mainly from Argentina.

1.2.5 Groundnut (peanut) oil

Only about 53% of groundnuts (Table 1.12) are crushed, the balance being used
in other ways. There is very little trade in the oil. It is produced and used mainly
in China and India, which together account for 71% of total production and
usage. Minor quantities of the oil are produced and used in several African
countries.

1.2.6 Cottonseed oil

Cottonseed oil (Table 1.13) is another oil traded only to a small extent. China is
the major producer and user (about 29%) with India, the US, the former USSR,
Pakistan, Brazil and Turkey providing lower levels.

Table 1.12 Major countries/regions involved in the production, disappearance, export and imports
(million tonnes) of groundnut oil in 2000/01
Total Major countries/regions
Production 4.86 China 2.38, India 1.06, Nigeria 0.32, Sudan 0.16, Senegal 0.16, other 0.78
Disappearance 4.87 China 2.38, India 1.07, Nigeria 0.32, Sudan 0.16, EU-15 0.15,
US 0.13, Myanmar 0.13, other 0.53
Exports 0.27 Senegal 0.11, Argentina 0.06, other 0.10
Imports 0.27 EU-15 0.15, other 0.12

Source: Mielke 2001.

 PRODUCTION AND TRADE OF VEGETABLE OILS 11

Table 1.13 Major countries/regions involved in the production, disappearance, export and imports
(million tonnes) of cottonseed oil in 2000/01
Total Major countries/regions
Production 3.89 China 1.12, India 0.45, US 0.40, former USSR 0.36, Pakistan 0.35,
Brazil 0.20, Turkey 0.19, other 0.82
Disappearance 3.94 China 1.12, India 0.49, former USSR 0.38, US 0.35, Pakistan 0.35,
Turkey 0.21, Brazil 0.17, other 0.87
Exports 0.20 US 0.05, Brazil 0.03, other 0.12
Imports 0.20 Canada 0.04, India 0.03, other 0.13

Source: Mielke 2001.

Table 1.14 Major countries/regions involved in the production, disappearance, export and imports
(million tonnes) of coconut oil in 2000/01
Total Major countries/regions
Production 3.43 Philippines 1.47, Indonesia 0.80, India 0.44, other 0.72
Disappearance 3.30 EU-15 0.81, US 0.46, India 0.46, Philippines 0.32, Indonesia 0.17,
Malaysia 0.11, Mexico 0.11, other 0.86
Exports 2.05 Philippines 1.17, Indonesia 0.63, other 0.25
Imports 2.09 EU-15 0.79, US 0.54, Malaysia 0.11, China 0.10, other 0.55

Source: Mielke 2001.

1.2.7 Coconut oil

Coconut oil (Table 1.14) has a very uneven record in terms of its production.
This is a consequence of climatic and political instability in the countries where
it is produced. Production at 3.4 million tonnes is mainly in the Philippines
(43%), Indonesia (23%) and India (13%). The Philippines and Indonesia are
the major exporters, while EU-15 and the US are the major importers. Coconut
oil is an important lauric oil with significant food and non-food uses. It competes
with palmkernel oil as the other major lauric oil.

1.2.8 Palmkernel oil

Palmkernel oil (Table 1.15) is available at a slightly lower level than coconut
oil but production is increasing steadily with that of palm oil, and it is expected
that one day production will exceed that of coconut oil. Malaysia and Indonesia
are the major producers and exporters, with EU-15 and the US again the major
importing countries.

1.2.9 Olive oil

Olive oil (Table 1.16), produced at a level of around 2.6 million tonnes, has
a long history going back to pre-biblical times. It is produced and consumed
12 VEGETABLE OILS IN FOOD TECHNOLOGY

Table 1.15 Major countries/regions involved in the production, disappearance, export

and imports (million tonnes) of palmkernel oil in 2000/01
Total Major countries/regions
Production 2.89 Malaysia 1.54, Indonesia 0.77, Nigeria 0.19, other 0.39
Disappearance 2.81 Malaysia 0.90, EU-15 0.49, Nigeria 0.19, US 0.18,
Indonesia 0.15, other 0.90
Exports 1.43 Malaysia 0.67, Indonesia 0.63, other 0.14
Imports 1.42 EU-15 0.51, US 0.19, other 0.72

Source: Mielke 2001.

Table 1.16 Major countries/regions involved in the production, disappearance, export

and imports (million tonnes) of olive oil in 2000/01
Total Major countries/regions
Production 2.56 Spain 1.01, Greece 0.44, Italy 0.35, Turkey 0.21,
Syria 0.18, Tunisia 0.16, other 0.21
Disappearance 2.70 EU-15 1.88, US 0.20, Syria 0.12, Turkey 0.10,
other 0.40
Exports 0.55 Italy 0.15, Tunisia 0.13, Spain 0.11, other 0.16
Imports 0.55 US 0.20, Italy 0.11, other 0.24

Source: Mielke 2001.

Table 1.17 Major countries/regions involved in the production, disappearance, export

and imports (million tonnes) of corn oil in 2000/01
Total Major countries/regions
Production 2.04 US 1.16, EU-15 0.21, Japan 0.11, other 0.56
Disappearance 2.06 US 0.70, EU-15 0.25, Turkey 0.11, Japan 0.10,
other 0.90
Exports 0.80 US 0.49, EU-15 0.13, other 0.18
Imports 0.80 EU-15 0.17, Turkey 0.09, Libya 0.08,
Saudi Arabia 0.06, other 0.40

Source: Mielke 2001.

mainly in Mediterranean countries, but demand is increasing in other countries

in Northern Europe and in the US as a consequence of strong marketing of
this oil. Olive oil is considered to be an essential ingredient of the healthy
Mediterranean life style.

1.2.10 Corn oil

Corn oil (Table 1.17) is available at about 2 million tonnes each year with about
40% being traded. The US is the major producer, consumer and exporter of this
oil, with EU-15 involved at a lower level.
 PRODUCTION AND TRADE OF VEGETABLE OILS 13

Table 1.18 Major countries/regions involved in the production, disappearance, export

and imports (million tonnes) of sesame oil in 2000/01
Total Major countries/regions
Production 0.78 China 0.23, India 0.15, Myanmar 0.09, other 0.31
Disappearance 0.78 China 0.22, India 0.15, Myanmar 0.09, other 0.32
Exports 0.03
Imports 0.03

Source: Mielke 2001.

Table 1.19 Major countries/regions involved in the production, disappearance, export

and imports (million tonnes) of linseed oil in 2000/01
Total Major countries/regions
Production 0.72 EU-15 0.20, China 0.16, US 0.13, other 0.23
Disappearance 0.73 China 0.20, EU-15 0.14, US 0.10, India 0.07,
other 0.22
Exports 0.14 EU-15 0.06, US 0.04, other 0.04
Imports 0.14 China 0.04, other 0.10

Source: Mielke 2001.

1.2.11 Sesame oil

Sesame oil (Table 1.18) is a minor oil with interesting properties (see Chapter 11).
Production at a little below 0.8 million tonnes is mainly in China, India and
Myanmar (Burma). Consumption is largely confined to these same countries.

1.2.12 Linseed oil

Linseed oil (Table 1.19) is unusual among these oils in that its production has
hardly changed over the past 20 years. Its main use is as an industrial oil based
on its high unsaturation, but increasingly it is consumed as a food oil. It is used as
flaxseed by those who recognise the dietary importance of n-3 acids or as linola.
The latter has a modified fatty acid composition which puts it in the linoleic acid-
rich group of seed oils. There is a substantial trade in the seeds as well as in
the oil. Details of countries/regions involved in production, consumption, and
trading are given in Table 1.19.

1.3 Some significant factors

In considering the production and trade in vegetable oil the following significant
factors have to be noted.
Imports into China and India. Through the operation of the market, the
production of oils and fats and their disappearance remain approximately in