Oil crops sector: Agritrade Executive Brief Update 2013

Responding to a growing demand not only for human consumption and animal feed but also for biofuels, oil crops and vegetable oils rank among the world’s most widely traded commodities, with over 40% of global production sold on international markets. However, ACP countries play only a marginal role in this sector, which is dominated by low-cost palm oil producers in south-east Asia for vegetable oils, and soybean producers in South America for oil crops. This Executive Brief analyses the main trends in 2013 oil crop and vegetable oil markets, focusing on some recent investment trends in oil crop production in ACP countries (mainly African countries) and the rise in demand for sustainably certified palm oil production. Special attention is given to the EU’s policy developments regarding the European Renewable Energy Directive; the revision of the Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP); the various FTA negotiations with several southeast Asian countries; and some initiatives to incorporate sustainability criteria into trade agreements.