Top Oil palm fruit Producers in 2017

Scientific name: Elaeis guineensis. The oil palm produces bunches containing a large number of fruits with the fleshy mesocarp enclosing a kernel that is covered by a very hard shell. FAO considers palm oil (coming from the pulp) and palm kernels to be primary products. The oil extraction rate from a bunch varies from 17 to 27% for palm oil, and from 4 to 10% for palm kernels.

Production of oil palm fruit in 2017

World production of oil palm fruit in 2017 was 318 million tonnes. It was the 12th most cultivated crop after maize at 1135 million tonnes, roots & tubers at 887 million tonnes and soybeans at 353 million tonnes, followed by cassava at 292 million tonnes, barley at 147 million tonnes and sunflower seed at 48 million tonnes.

Consumption of oil palm fruit in 2013

Consumption of oil palm fruit across the world in 2013 was 15 million tonnes. It was the 60th most consumed food item after wheat at 458 million tonnes, cassava at 101 million tonnes, vegetable oils at 80 million tonnes and soyabean oil at 24 million tonnes. Some items consumed less than oil palm fruit in 2013 include sunflowerseed oil at 10 million tonnes and rape and mustard oil at 10 million tonnes.

• Crop production data from FAO Crops database
• Food consumption data from FAO Food Supply Database