Summary
Palm oil makes a substantial contribution to many local and national economies across Asia. In Indonesia and Malaysia, palm oil expansion has delivered significant benefits, contributing to poverty alleviation, employment and income creation. Production has also helped stimulate rural infrastructure and local economic growth. The opportunity for Asian markets to drive meaningful, positive change in the palm oil value chain is unequivocal: Asia consumes approximately 60% of the world’s palm oil, and Indonesia, India, and China are among the world’s top consuming countries. Indonesia and Malaysia account for 86% of global palm oil production, and palm oil is a primary source of income for an estimated 4.3 million people in these two countries alone. This study aims to provide detailed, credible market intelligence into palm oil consumption across five key countries in Asia: China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore. WWF’s hope is that the data presented can help devise effective
and tailored strategies to boost the demand for sustainable palm oil in key Asian markets. The study puts forth estimates covering both conventional and RSPO CSPO volumes for 2019, in addition to highlighting the main players, application sectors and interventions that can help progress sustainable palm oil demand in Asia in the near future.