Since 2006, the palm oil has overtaken soybean to become the most important oil crop in the world.
In East Asian countries, palm oil is the major feedstock for biodiesel. The period from 1995-2010, palm oil production more than tripled to 46.7 million MT, with Indonesia 47% and Malaysia 38% as the main producers.
USDA estimates that world palm oil production for 2014/2015 will be 63.29 million MT.
Palm oil is used for cooking, margarine, vanaspati, shortenings, detergents and cosmetics. It is also used in pharmaceuticals industry as a source of carotenes.
Oil palm trees are capable of producing palm oil all year round, rather than during just one or two harvests.
Oil palm wood is growing in value, especially with high demand from the United States, and even the cuttings and discarded fruit husks can be used in biofuel.
The oil palm is an unbranched evergreen tree, reaching a height of 18-30 m and having a stout trunk with diameter of 22-75 cm and covered with leaf bases.
Optimal plant density is 145 trees/hectare with a distance of 10m between trees.
Palm oil tree (Elaeis guineensis)
