Global Production of Vegetable Oils to Set Record in 2025/26
According to updated forecasts from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), global production of vegetable oils in the 2025/26 season is expected to reach 234.5 million tons. This is an increase of 6.7 million tons compared to last year and will fully cover the projected global demand of 228.9 million tons.
This is reported by AgroReview
Leadership of Palm Oil in the Global Market
According to a study by the Union for the Promotion of Oilseed and Grain Cultivation in Germany (UFOP), palm oil remains the most significant on the global market in terms of both production volume and consumption level. In the 2025/26 season, its production will reach 80.4 million tons, which is an increase of 2.2 million tons compared to the previous season. Indonesia maintains its position as the main producer with a volume of 47.5 million tons, followed by Malaysia (19.2 million tons) and Thailand (slightly less than 3.4 million tons).
Global production of soybean oil is also showing growth and may set a new record, reaching 70.8 million tons (an increase of 2.2 million tons compared to last season). Canola oil in 2025/26 is expected to total 34.5 million tons, exceeding last year’s figure by 617,000 tons. Production volumes of sunflower oil are anticipated to grow by nearly 1.8 million tons, reaching 21.9 million tons.
Controversies Surrounding the Use of Waste Oils
The issue of the efficiency and acceptability of biofuels from waste oils is sparking active discussions. The Union has once again emphasized its criticism of the double counting of “advanced” biofuels from certain types of waste, stating that such labeling is unjustified.
The EU Renewable Energy Directive (RED II) stipulates that double counting is only possible if the raw material is processed using innovative technologies, the association notes.
The organization emphasizes that if 5–10% of global oil production is collected as waste, the total volume will range from 11.7 to 23.4 million tons. At the same time, during the review of support policies for national and European fuel markets, this resource must be properly classified, as it is expected that in the future, the shipping and aviation sectors will compete for it not only in Europe but globally.
Meanwhile, last year, exports of used cooking oil from China reached a historical high of 2.951 million tons, which is 43.49% higher than the figure for 2023.