India

India trade issues:India benefits from little price increase in palm oil, eye on Africa, domestic oil palm

9 July 2016: India benefits from little price increase in palm oil, eye on Africa, domestic oil palm


The other oil: How a product almost entirely imported has defied food inflation  by Harish Damodaran July 3, 2016 -- It costs the country roughly $10.5 billion in annual forex outgo, yet hardly attracts the kind of editorial commentary that oil, gold, mobiles, coal and other big-ticket import items do. Like petroleum, it is also shipped in tankers — typically Handymax/Supramax vessels of 15,000-50,000 tonnes capacity — and processed in giant refineries. But unlike regular “commodities”, there are strong regional patterns and preferences dictating its consumption. And most important, it’s indispensable to any meal, even while being a rare food article that has recorded very little price increase in recent times. India is the world’s second largest consumer of edible oil — the “other oil” that is used to deep fry our pooris and rohu fish, make the tadka/chounk tempering to add flavour and aroma to dals, and impart necessary texture, mouth-feel and bite to biscuits and cookies. Like petroleum, this one, too, is largely imported: Out of the country’s 20-21 million tonnes (mt) annual consumption, next only to China’s 34-35 mt, 14.5-15.5 mt is imported. The evolution of this consumption is itself a story worth telling....http://indianexpress.com/article/business/commodities/edible-oil-import-india-food-inflation-2890198/

Modi’s African Safari May Yield Major Economic Gains for India by Manoj Joshi July 7, 2016 -- One of the emerging areas of interest is that of floriculture and agriculture, because of the agriculture investment-friendly attitude of many of the states. For example, Karuturi Global Ltd, originally a floriculture company from  Bengaluru, now owns a vast land bank, the size of Goa in Ethiopia and Kenya where it is involved in floricuture, as well as commercial farming of sugarcane, palm oil and coffee. Indian companies are also interested in moving to Madagascar as well.... http://www.thequint.com/opinion/2016/07/06/will-modis-african-safari-yield-major-economic-gains-for-india-mozambique-hamid-ansari-pranab-mukherjee

Village off Dudhnoi takes to palm oil cultivation by SIVASISH THAKUR  DUDHNOI, July 3 - For the first time in the State, farmers in Dudhnoi and Boko have taken to oil palm cultivation. Started last year under the Centrally-sponsored National Mission for Oil Seeds and Oil Palm, the cultivation today covers a total area of 409 hectares.... http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=jul0416/at054


7 July 2016: India worries about palm oil in fast food, Canada-India FTA may boost canola oil as healthier option, food safety flap over solvent extraction

Three McDonald’s outlets in Jaipur found using 16-day-old oil by Deep Mukherjee, Hindustan Times, Jaipur |  Updated: Jun 28, 2016  -- A routine inspection drive conducted by the Jaipur health department earlier this month revealed that three branches of McDonald’s – a popular fast food chain – were reportedly using oil that was over 16 days old. The discovery has spurred department officials to check if popular fast food chains in the city adhere to prescribed food safety standards. “During an inspection drive on June 17, we were shocked to find that the oil being used by three McDonald’s outlets was 16 days old. The oil had turned black because it was being heated constantly at 360 degrees Celsius for all those days. The management was unable to give us a satisfactory answer,” said Narottam Sharma, chief medical and health officer, Jaipur. There were other problems too. “We also found that palmolein oil was being used at all McDonald’s branches in Jaipur. Palmolein oil is less healthy when compared to other edible oils such as soybean oil,” Sharma said....http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/three-mcdonald-s-outlets-in-jaipur-found-using-16-day-old-oil/story-QfLPlZzUmqrZIxsYULipWM.html
Interaction prog on prospect of Palm Oil plantation in Namsai June 29, 2016 http://www.arunachaltimes.in/interaction-prog-on-prospect-of-palm-oil-plantation-in-namsai/

1/3rd of what we eat today is foreign Subodh Varma | TNN | Jun 26, 2016 Of all the food grains, vegetables and fruits grown and eaten in India, about a third originally came from some foreign land. In terms of calories, such food items account for 45% of all calories consumed in the country. At the global level, 66% of calories consumed are derived from foreign origin foods on an average as is 71% of production. This data was gathered and analysed by an international team of scientists studying interdependence of the world's countries on each other's foods. The study, covering 177 countries and 132 types of fruits and vegetables, was led by scientists from the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT). http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/sunday-times/deep-focus/1/3rd-of-what-we-eat-today-is-foreign/articleshow/52919858.cms


Canada-India FTA must to boost trade: Lyle Stewart, Canadian minister By Madhvi Sally, ET Bureau | Jun 23, 2016 -- With India aiming to increase productivity and ensure food security, do Canadian farmers and companies see this as an opportunity to partner both at the farm and processing levels? There are many opportunities here - there's room for technology transfer and ways to expand agriculture products sale to India. For example, canola oil is a healthier option than palm oil for a growing Indian population. The sale of canola oil has doubled and is growing fast...... http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/52876339.cms?



Mixed trend prevails in oil market by Press Trust of India  |  New Delhi  June 18, 2016 - A mixed trend prevailed at the wholesale oil and oilseeds market during the week as select edible oils edged up on scattered demand from vanaspati millers and retailers, while a few others turned weak on adequate stocks position. http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/mixed-trend-prevails-in-oil-market-116061800175_1.html

Palm oil imports plunge 28% on higher stock, weak demand PTI | Jun 14, 2016 New Delhi, Jun 14 () India's palm oil imports fell by 27.54 per cent to 6,57,454 tonnes in May, in view of higher stock availability and sluggish summer demand, industry body Solvent Extractors Association (SEA) said today.  http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/Palm-oil-imports-plunge-28-on-higher-stock-weak-demand/articleshow/52744206.cms

Palm oil planters likely to increase acreage this year By Ashish Kulshrestha, ET Bureau | Jun 17, 2016, http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/52796452.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst


India Palm Oil Imports Drop in May on Slow Demand, Stockpiles by  Pratik Parija  June 14, 2016  -- Soybean oil purchases fall 38%; sunflower oil imports drop. Cooking oil stockpiles on June 1 enough to meet 42 days demand http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-06-14/india-palm-oil-imports-drop-in-may-on-slow-demand-stockpiles

Hydrotreatment or solcent extraction methods can yield oils with no carcinogenic potential Jun 05,2016 --  Even as the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has directed its central licensing arm to issue a show cause notice to Patanjali Ayurved Ltd over complaints about 'alleged misleading advertisement', it has emerged that the "US Institute" quoted by Yoga guru Baba Ramdev-led FMCG group on mustard oil does not support its contention. Patanjali Ayurved had brought out advertisement in major newspapers saying "According to NCBI (US Institute) Hexagon solvent which is a petroleum by-product is carcinogenic in nature." It further said that "other than Kacchi Ghani process, most of the other edible refined oils and mustard oil are made using Neurotoxin Hexagon Solvent extraction process." It also said "Patanjali's Kacchi Ghani Mustard Oil does not contain any harmful chemicals." Kacchi Ghani refers to the cold press extraction process....."These methods are safe up to a permissible limit. But FSSAI has not set any permissible limit in India," Tijarawala said......The SEA had sent a complaint to the FSSAI stating that "the process of hexane solvent extraction is very well recognised and approved as laid down in regulation of the Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulation, 2011" for edible oils. The SEA had also complained to the Advertisement Standards Council of India (ASCI) about the Patanjali ads. In response, the ASCI said that the ad "stating 'mineral oil is carcinogenic in nature and may cause cancer' was false and misleading by ambiguity and by gross exaggeration." The ASCI also said "Patanjali's claims that many companies 'mix cheap palm oil in mustard oil to make profits at the cost of consumers' health', were not substantiated and the claims were misleading." This, Mehta said, "is not the way to promote or market one's products. It is wrong to paint an entire industry as a thug....http://www.thehansindia.com/posts/index/Health/2016-06-05/Hydrotreatment-or-solcent-extraction-methods-can-yield-oils-with-no-carcinogenic-potential/232984

Pakistan - Edible oil demands seen at 10-year low in upcoming Ramazan By Erum Zaidi May 28, 2016 -- KARACHI: The share of palm oil in Pakistan’s growing edible oil imports is expected to drop to the lowest since 2006 in the upcoming Ramazan as the early onset of summer accentuated the drop in buying despite seasonal increase in demand in the fasting month, a top importer said. “Ghee and cooking oil packers have never seen such a sluggish demand over the last 10 years in the Muslim fasting month of Ramazan,” said the importer, asked not to be named.  “…this year due to extreme high temperature in summer the consumption of oil has declined.” 

The trader said high temperatures in May, three- to five-degrees above normal, slowed consumption demand. Use of vegetable oil for cooking purposes usually wanes in summer. https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/123256-Edible-oil-demands-seen-at-10-year-low-in-upcoming-Ramazan

Palm oil industry's profits slip 25%, small firms shut shop By Ashish Kulshrestha & Sutanuka Ghosal, May 18, 2016  http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/52322064.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst

Palm oil analyst Mistry cuts price forecast to RM2,600-RM2,800 per tonne 20 May 2016 http://www.thestar.com.my/business/business-news/2016/05/20/palm-oil-analyst-mistry-cuts-palm-forecast-to-rm2600-rm2800-per-tonne/


Govt allows bulk export of rice bran oil By PTI | May 18, 2016 http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/foreign-trade/govt-allows-bulk-export-of-rice-bran-oil/articleshow/52331447.cms


Overseas investors continue to shun oil palm industry PRASHANTH CHINTALA May 7, 2016 http://www.thehindu.com/business/Industry/overseas-investors-continue-to-shun-oil-palm-industry/article8566558.ece?w=alauto


Govt targeting enhancing domestic production of oilseeds PTI | May 11, 2016 http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/Govt-targeting-enhancing-domestic-production-of-oilseeds/articleshow/52226382.cms

The oil wars by POOJA BHULA | Sun, 10 Apr 2016-06:35am , Mumbai -- What's the healthier option: olive oil, palm oil or local Indian oils? As the edible oil industry confuses us with its claims, we ask nutritionist Pushpa Ladsariya to settle the debate and tell us how to avoid blunders when using oil http://www.dnaindia.com/lifestyle/report-the-oil-wars-2200096

Oil palm developers hail market intervention scheme IANS | Apr 21, 2016 -- erabad, April 21 (IANS) The Oil Palm Developers and Processors Association (OPDPA), the nodal body for oil palm development in the country, on Thursday welcomed the central government's move to assist palm oil farmers by implementing a market intervention scheme. The scheme has been announced for Fresh Fruit Bunches (FFB) of oil palm to Rs.7,888 per ton. Declining crude oil prices over the past year has been the bane of the industry, and has resulted in severe distress for both farmer and industry, the OPDPA said in a statement, adding it has been trying to persuade the state and the central governments to introduce minimum support price (MSP) or market intervention scheme (MIS) to help farmers.... http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/Oil-palm-developers-hail-market-intervention-scheme/articleshow/51930562.cms


12 December 2015:  India - OPDPA urges government to increase import duty on crude palm oil to 45%, oil palm growers eye coconut farming? Rubber farmers face price problems


India - OPDPA urges government to increase import duty on crude palm oil to 45% By Sutanuka Ghosal, ET Bureau | 8 Dec, 2015... Oil Palm Developers and Processors Association (OPDPA) the nodal agency for oil palm development in India, has urged the government to increase the import duty on crude palm oil to 45%. The government has recently increased the import duty on crude  palm oil to 17.5% from 5%.India's current vegetable oil import bill is to the tune of $10 billion out of which 80% comprises of palm oil and its derivatives. http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/50090579.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst


The curious case of oil palm - The opening of oil palm cultivation to FDI ends the 25-year struggle to convince India farmers by Aruna Urs   November 16, 2015
Palm oil industry welcomes 100% FDI but wants land ceiling norms relaxed by  K V Kurmanath.. While calling for an exclusive palm oil import policy, the association feels that the current import duty levels are not supportive to oil palm farmers and the industry. He called for formation of a separate oil palm development board to aid the promotion of the industry as planned by the Government.. http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/agri-business/palm-oil-industry-welcomes-100-fdi-but-wants-land-ceiling-norms-relaxed/article7883447.ece

Oil Palm industry demands subsidy policy to help farmers Nov 18 2015 http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/business/oil-palm-industry-demands-subsidy-policy-to-help-farmers/159535.html


Oil palm growers take to coconut farming  December 08,2015; The oil palm farmers are now barely getting an income of Rs 30,000 to Rs 40,000 per acre annually. At an average, the farmers get a yield of around 12 tonnes of fresh fruit bunches (FFBs) per acre every year. With current price of the FFBs hovering around Rs 5,700 per tonne, farmers are hardly making Rs 40,000 a year..... Against this backdrop, the coconut farming appears to be a lucrative one for farmers with the availability of some superior quality seed nut and seedlings of hybrid coconut varieties like Ganga, Malayan Orange, Yellow Dwarf and Chowghat Orange Dwarf. Each acre that accommodates 60 to 70 coconut trees is expected to give a yield of over 10,000 nuts per annum, according to a conservative estimate. Based on the demand for tender coconut in the country, farmers will get anywhere between Rs 10 and Rs 12 per each nut.http://www.thehansindia.com/posts/index/2015-12-08/Oil-palm-growers-take-to-coconut-farming--191726

Indian rubber farmers facing ruin as global prices crash by Subodh Varma | TNN | Dec 7, 2015 http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/Indian-rubber-farmers-facing-ruin-as-global-prices-crash/articleshow/50077311.cms


Malaysia palm oil - India's demand spurt sparks hopes of firmer pricing KUALA LUMPUR (NewsRise) November 16, 2015  -- A spurt in demand from India may help firm prices of palm oil, even as Malaysia's stockpile climbed to a fresh record high in October and shipments to other top importers slipped. Imports to India surged 59% in October from a year earlier and 24% month-on-month, according to Malaysian Palm Oil Board's latest data, ahead of peak demand during the Hindu festival of lights, or Diwali. The robust demand from India--the world's largest consumer and importer of palm oil--comes at a time when the commodity faces supply glut and lacklustre demand from other major markets such as China and Pakistan. http://asia.nikkei.com/Markets/Commodities/India-s-demand-spurt-sparks-hopes-of-firmer-pricing

Govt allows 100% FDI in five plantation crops including coffee Nov 10, 2015 NEW DELHI: The government today allowed 100 per cent FDI in five plantation crops, mainly coffee, rubber, cardamom, palm oil tree and olive oil tree via automatic route, a move hailed by the industry. At present, 100 per cent FDI is allowed only in tea plantation through the government approval route... http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2015-11-10/news/68165443_1_100-fdi-cent-fdi-tea-plantation

 

14 Nov 2015: India to allow direct foreign investment in palm oil plantations

 

India to allow direct foreign investment in palm oil plantations 11 November 2015, But a gestation period of up to five years and laws limiting the size of each palm development have hindered previous efforts to switch to the crop, putting off local farmers as well as companies such as Ruchi Soya, Cargill and Bunge. Bajoria said the government should look at recognising oil palm as a cultivation crop so that local firms can acquire land to grow it, referring to a rule that prohibits corporations from commercial cultivation of oil palm. - Reuters http://www.thestar.com.my/Business/Business-News/2015/11/11/India-to-allow-direct-foreign-investment-in-palm-oil-plantations/?style=biz

22 August 2015: Solvent Extractors’ Association calls for increase in import duty to 25 and 45%, India's rice bran oil exports to surge after easing of curbs

Solvent extractors’ association calls for increase in import duty on edible oils By Sutanuka Ghosal, ET Bureau | 21 Aug, 2015, 03.34PM IST NEW DELHI: The significant increase in import of edible oils is hurting domestic farmers and vegetable oil refiners, Solvent Extractors' Association of India (SEA) has said and asked for an increase in import duty.  The Centre should immediately increase the import duty on crude vegetable oils from 7.5 per cent to 25 per cent and on refined vegetable oils from 15 per cent to 45 per cent, said SEA president Pravin Lunkad, so that farmers get remunerative price for their produce in the ensuing kharif harvesting season. http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/foreign-trade/solvent-extractors-association-calls-for-increase-in-import-duty-on-edible-oils/articleshow/48580008.cms

India's rice bran oil exports to surge after easing of curbs: Industry Executive Reuters Aug 7, 2015, 06.59PM IST; MUMBAI: India's rice bran oil exports could surge to 10,000 tonnes this fiscal year ending March 2016 from about 2,000 tonnes last year after the government allowed bulk sale instead of just consumer packs, an industry official told Reuters...."There is very good demand for Indian rice bran oil from countries like Japan and Thailand," said B.V. Mehta, executive director of the Solvent Extractors' Association, on the sidelines of the Global Rice Bran Oil Conference.... http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2015-08-07/news/65318089_1_ricela-health-foods-ltd-b-v-mehta-solvent-extractors

20 August 2015: India worries about adulterated coconut oil, coconut growers seek ban on import of palm kernel


‘Ban palm kernel oil import’ Updated: August 17, 2015 05:49 IST by R. Krishnamoorthy
Coconut growers in the region have demanded a ban on import of palm kernel oil to prevent adulteration of coconut oil.According to industry sources, price competition is the cause for adulteration. Unadulterated coconut oil cannot be sold for less than Rs. 170 per litre, whereas adulterated oil under brand names are being sold for Rs. 40 to Rs. 50 less, the sources said.
T.A. Krishnasamy, United Coconut Growers Association of South India, told The Hindu that in some brands, adulteration was up to 70 per cent. Adulteration using palm oil was easy because it was colourless and odourless, he explained.... Coconut growers, Mr. Krishnasamy said, were upset with the Centre for not following what Atal Behari Vajpayee’s government had laid down — it had banned the import of palm kernel. “The Congress-led government that came to power after the NDA government lifted the restriction and the present BJP government did not care to restore the ban,” said Mr. Krishnasamy....
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/ban-palm-kernel-oil-import/article7549202.ece

10 Jan 2014: India finally increases its import duty after months of lobbying by India refiners. Tax differential between crude and refined increases from 5% to 7.5%.

 News and view from AmResearch 10 Jan 2014: Bloomberg reported that India has increased the import duty on refined palm oil from 7.5% to 10%. We are not surprised by this development as palm refiners in India have been lobbying for a higher import duty since mid-2013. At that time, the refiners had proposed an import duty of 12.5% on refined palm oil. The Indian Government has given in to the proposal of a higher import duty but at a rate of 10%. Due to the low tax differential between crude and refined palm oil, buyers in India had preferred to import refined palm oil directly instead of buying them from the refiners. It was reported that palm refiners in India were operating at low utilisation rates of only 30%. Companies operating palm refineries in India include Wilmar Adani and Ruchi Soya Industries. We believe that the increase in import duty would not significantly affect the demand for palm oil. India would still be buying palm oil from Indonesia or Malaysia except that there could be some switching from refined palm oil to palm oil in crude form. Currently, the import duty on crude palm oil is 2.5%. The tax differential between crude and refined palm oil would increase to 7.5 percentage points due to the higher import duty on refined palm oil versus 5 percentage points previously. 


8 Jan 2014: Editor's comment: There has been long time pressure for import duties reinstatements for India and more recently, a study on the potential impacts of a 20% palm oil tax on health. We summarise the key findings here and we will report on responses from palm oil health specialists in due course. This is likely to be a contested issue.



India palm oil refiners have faced worsening margins and they have pressed for the reinstatement of import duties. “What would be the likely outcome if a scenario of 10 percent import duty on CPO and 20 percent import duty on RBD oil were imposed? Based on past experience, this would not any significant impact on the domestic production of oilseeds” (MPOC Fortune, Mar 2013).

But what impact on the import mix? Medical researchers simulate the effects of a 20% food tax on palm oil on serum cholesterol and mortality from coronary heart disease and strokes in India (Basu, BMJ 2013). Using Indian National Sample Survey data the price elasticities of demand it calculates: a) for each 1% increase in the price of palm oil, consumption of palm oil decreases by 0.71%, b) for a 1% increase in the price of palm oil, the cross elasticities suggest a 0.70% rise in rapeseed and mustard seed oil consumption and a 0.67% rise in groundnut oil consumption.

The Basu study's health findings, including cholesterol reduction 1.7-2% and 0.8-1.6% reduction in heart disease and stroke mortality, will no doubt be contested. It warns that “palm oil taxes might have adverse effects on net energy consumption, food security, or both.” It also points out that “other interventions... dietary sodium reduction (lowers cardiovascular mortality by about 5%), tobacco use restrictions (25% reduction), and increased use of aspirin, statins, and antihypertensives (5% reduction) would have higher impact than a palm oil tax.

New plantings news: Philippines - Farmers, indigenous peoples thumb down expansion of oil palm plantations , PM Modi wants 2 million ha of oil palm in Maharastra and Karnataka, India

Cheaper satellite imagery, the latest online tools and dedicated NGOs are raising ever more awareness on new oil palm plantings. There is expected to be a rise in the complaints against new plantings. Notably, there are interesting categories of forest put on popular online maps - for instance, "primary degraded forest" and more.


18 July 2016: News update


New Study recommends more sustainable approach to commercial agriculture in PNG June 6, 2016 Posted by PNG Today http://news.pngfacts.com/2016/06/new-study-recommends-more-sustainable.html#ixzz4EiRY396d

Palm oil drive under review in Tanintharyi By Aye Nyein Win   |   11 July 2016 -- The government had planned to plant 500,000 acres (200,000 hectares) of oil palm in the region, rising to 700,000 acres by 2030, he said. But yields have been lower than expected due to a failure to carry out proper research, while controversies over land use have led to disputes with local residents http://www.mmtimes.com/index.php/business/21301-palm-oil-drive-under-review-in-tanintharyi.html

Dawei locals launch campaign against Chinese oil refinery plans   By Nick Baker and Su Phyo Win   |   11 May 2016 -- This palm oil plantation owned by military-run Union of Myanmar Economic Holdings Limited is planned as the site of the country’s biggest oil refinery, behind Tizit beach near Dawei.  http://www.mmtimes.com/index.php/business/20230-dawei-locals-launch-campaign-against-chinese-oil-refinery-plans.html

13 December 2015: Philippines - Farmers, indigenous peoples thumb down expansion of oil palm plantations


Philippines - Farmers, indigenous peoples thumb down expansion of oil palm plantations November 5, 2015  By RONALYN V. OLEA Bulatlat.com MANILA – About a hundred farmers and indigenous peoples voiced out their opposition to the expansion of oil palm plantations in the country. In a conference held Nov. 4 at a makeshift tent set up in front of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the farmers and indigenous people from Mindanao, Bohol and Palawan thumbed down the government’s plan to devote eight million hectares of land for oil palm by 2023. - See more at: http://bulatlat.com/main/2015/11/05/farmers-indigenous-peoples-thumb-down-expansion-of-oil-palm-plantations/#sthash.9LMvGT8U.dpuf


Mindanao land grabs to worsen w/ govt 1-M has. palm oil expansion plan Oct 27, 2015 .... “Attacks against the people who defend their lands continue to intensify as land grabbing in Mindanao also worsen due to government policies allowing the massive conversion of agricultural and ancestral lands,” said KMP Chair and Anakpawis Partylist President Rafael Mariano.... http://www.boholnewstoday.com/201510/mindanao-land-grabs-to-worsen-w-govt-1-m-has-palm-oil-expansion-plan.html




20 August 2015: PM Modi wants 2 million ha of oil palm in Maharastra and Karnataka, India

PM Narendra Modi to bet $1.5 billion on palm oil plan as imports surge By Reuters | 18 Aug, 2015, 03.33PM IST India plans to spend $1.5 billion in the next three years to help farmers grow oil palm trees in (on 2 million hectares in Maharashtra and Karnataka)... Modi is targeting India's $10 billion import bill for edible oils, its third-highest overseas spend after oil and gold, and has already been considering buying oilseeds directly from farmers and boosting government support for grow .. http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/48525616.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst

23 June 2015: Ta Ann new NCR JV for 60% stake in 17,000 ha (60% plantable; Sibu and Kapit area) replaces 2012 agreements revoked for lack of land owners' interest; BLD questioned over new planting plan and NGO asks for "no deforestation, no peatland" policy - /khorreports-palmoil/2014/11/rspo-meeting-sabah-considering-100.html

10 June 2015: Is oil palm the answer for rural poverty in Papua?


Is oil palm the answer for rural poverty in Papua? Agustina YS Arobaya and Freddy Pattiselanno, Manokwari | Opinion | Tue, June 09 2015, 6:25 AM .Indonesian oil palm plantations have now reached more than 10 million hectares, making the country the world’s largest palm oil producer with an annual output of around 23 million tons. In Papua, the oil palm industry started in the 1980s — when state-owned PTPN II started an oil palm business in Arso and Prafi. The oil palm plantation was firstly intended to facilitate the transmigration program from other parts of Indonesia. A large part of the plantation is designed for a smallholder scheme allowing transmigrant families, mostly from Java and West Timor, together with Papuan customary land owners, to be allocated 2 hectares of oil palm per family and to sell their produce to the company.Presently as space becomes limited in western Indonesia, investors are increasingly looking to the east for new land. Data from the West Papua Oil Palm Atlas show that currently there are 21 companies starting operations in Papua. Twenty other companies are in an advanced stage of the permit process and appear to be almost ready to start land clearing whilst dozens more are still applying for the permits they need. - See more at: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/06/09/is-oil-palm-answer-rural-poverty-papua.html#sthash.J3boVDme.dpuf

7 June 2015:  Oil Palm Could Revitalize Colombian Agriculture - news link


Oil Palm Could Revitalize Colombian Agriculture RESTREPO, Colombia – Production of oil palm has the potential to become a growth engine for Colombian agriculture, the president of the National Federation of Oil Palm Growers, or Fedepalma, told Efe.
“Palm is one of the best positioned alternatives for the future development of Colombian farming,” Lens Mesa said, pointing out that the crop already accounts for 6 percent of Colombia’s agricultural gross domestic product.
http://laht.com/article.asp?ArticleId=2389808&CategoryId=12393

28 May 2015: FGV to supply 1.1 million seeds oil palm seeds in Mindanao


FGV to supply premier oil palm seeds in Mindanao Monday, 25 May 2015 KUALA LUMPUR: Felda Global Ventures Holdings Bhd (FGV) subsidiary Felda Agriculture Services Sdn Bhd (FASSB) has ventured into the Philippine market to supply its premier oil palm seeds to planters in Mindanao. FASSB signed a Memorandum of Collaboration with the Philippines' Bali Oil Palm Produce Corporation (BOPPC) recently to explore the possibility of collaborating in agriculture-related products and services, said FGV in a statement here.  Under the collaboration, which will be a springboard for Mindanao to become one of the major world-class palm oil exporters together with FGV and other top world producers, FASSB is committed to delivering the first oil palm seeds to the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) and BOPPC this year. It is also to deliver 110,000 and one million DxP oil palm germinated seeds to PCA and BOPPC respectively, commencing June this year.
FGV produces over 25 million seeds annually and its export markets include  Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Honduras, Cambodia, Sierra Leone, Ethiopia,  Myanmar, Thailand, Sri Lanka and Gabon.
http://www.thestar.com.my/Business/Business-News/2015/05/25/FGV-to-supply-premier-oil-palm-seeds-in-Mindanao/?style=biz

24 May 2015:  Indian edible oil industry tries to increase oil palm plantation in North East India


Indian edible oil industry tries to increase oil palm plantation in North East India By ET Bureau | 21 May, 2015, 03.52PM IST Arunachal Pradesh has a potential of nearly 1.20 lakh hectare of oil palm plantation.Arunachal Pradesh has a potential of nearly 1.20 lakh hectare of oil palm plantation. PUNE: The edible oil industry in the country is exploring the possibility of increasing oil palm cultivation in the North East. It has asked for transport and plantation material subsidies to boost its cultivation in the region.  A seven members team of SEA under Leadership of Dr. Anupam Barik, Additional Commissioner (Oilseeds), Ministry of Agriculture visited North East states of Mizoram, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh during May 10 and May 15, 2015 to evaluate the scope from oil palm cultivation.  Oil palm cultivation in some of North East states has good potential. Mizoram has already taken initiative and nearly 20,000 hectares are under oil palm plantation having potential to expand to 80,000 hectares.  Similarly Arunachal Pradesh has a potential of nearly 1.20 lakh hectare of oil palm plantation. Assam too offers good potential for oil palm plantation and beginning is already done. http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/cons-products/food/indian-edible-oil-industry-tries-to-increase-oil-palm-plantation-in-north-east-india/articleshow/47371045.cms

22 May 2015: 9,400 hectares of closed-canopy Amazonian rainforest removed for two oil palm plantations in the Peruvian region of Ucayali since 2011 - MAAP study; linked to Dennis Melka / United Cacao - Mongabay


Primary rainforest cleared for massive palm oil plantations in Peru by  John C. Cannon  May 20, 2015; More than 9,400 hectares of closed-canopy Amazonian rainforest has been removed for two oil palm plantations in the Peruvian region of Ucayali since 2011, according to scientists working for MAAP, the Monitoring of the Andean Amazon Project. The two plantations are linked to Czech entrepreneur Dennis Melka.  Melka is the CEO of United Cacao, a Cayman Islands-based company that has been accused by scientists and NGOs of clearing more than 2,000 hectares of primary forest for a cacao plantation in another part of Peru while claiming to espouse a “sustainable” approach. He is also the founder, director, chairman, and CEO of United Oils, headquartered in the Cayman Islands according to some associates, and is a Singapore-based “palm oil refiner” according to others. Based on the public statements of at least one American investor, it appears that United Oils has also claimed that its operations are also sustainable.  Based on an analysis of satellite images going back to 1990, a total of 12,188 total hectares of standing forest had been leveled through the end of April, MAAP reported on April 27. MAAP is an initiative by a group of scientific and conservation organizations to accessibly present technical information about threats to the Amazon.  Seventy-seven percent of the total deforested area had not been cleared – in other words, it had been primary forest – for at least the last 25 years. Nearly another 20 percent, or around 2,300 hectares, was secondary forest that had been cleared at one time but had since grown back, the analysis showed.
Read more: http://news.mongabay.com/2015/0520-mrn-gfrn-cannon-amazon-forest-cleared-for-palm-oil.html#ixzz3ap57Gkgh

The new name behind the threat to Cameroon’s Forests, Feature story - May 6, 2016 -- After the slowdown of the destructive Herakles Farms palm oil project in Cameroon, following extensive environmental and social opposition, we had hope for the future. However, it now looks like the infamous operation is being resurrected under a new identity, with ambitions to to destroy vast areas of forest and local community land. Since 2013, Greenpeace and other local and international organizations have been sounding the alarm over the Herakles Farms palm oil project in Cameroon’s Southwest Region While nobody was looking, Herakles Farms appears to have sold its palm oil project to new investors.  Reports from local workers and villagers pinpoint this transition to the summer of 2015, however according to company filings, it was not until November that a British man, Jonathan Johnson Watts, was named the new Chairman and General Manager of the SGSOC plantation. Jonathan Johnson Watts is no stranger to taking over struggling palm oil projects.  Watts was also involved in the purchase of a struggling palm oil project in Ghana, which as it turns out, was also sold to him by its previous owner, Herakles Farms a few years ago. The Volta Red plantation, as it is now know, is growing and palm oil production has begun.... http://www.greenpeace.org/africa/en/News/news/The-New-Name-Behind-the-threat-to-Cameroons-Forests/


Unprecedented deforestation in old Herakles plantation, now under new management 6 May 2016 / John C. Cannon -- After a spate of inactivity, a palm oil plantation in western Cameroon has come back to life. https://news.mongabay.com/2016/05/unprecedented-deforestation-old-herakles-plantation-now-new-management/



9 March 2015: Palm oil firms in Peru plan to clear 23,000 hectares of primary forest


Palm oil firms in Peru plan to clear 23,000 hectares of primary forest by David Hill Saturday 7 March 2015 21.14 GMT; Four oil palm plantations connected to the same company are proposed for Peru’s northern Amazon.... Operations on two plantations called Maniti and Santa Cecilia which would involve clearing more than 9,300 hectares of primary forest could start imminently following a recent government decision.... “We’ve done an extensive analysis of satellite images of the project area and conclude that 84.6% of Maniti and Santa Cecilia is primary forest,” says a media statement from the Association for the Conservation of the Amazon Basin (ACCA), in Peru, and the Amazon Conservation Association (ACA), in the US. “That means deforesting 9,343 hectares - almost 13,000 football pitches - of primary forest!”... The companies involved in Maniti and Santa Cecilia, Islandia Energy and Palmas del Amazonas, are both receiving “technical and financial support” from Palmas del Espino, the leader in Peru’s oil palm industry and part of the country’s powerful Romero Group.
While the area under oil palm cultivation in Peru is much less than neighbouring Ecuador and Colombia, or other countries such as Indonesia and Malaysia, expansion in recent years has been dramatic. The national and some regional governments have taken steps to promote and incentivise cultivation and almost 1.5 million hectares have been identified as potentially suitable, leading some people to see oil palm as now one of the biggest threats to the Peruvian Amazon.... http://www.theguardian.com/environment/andes-to-the-amazon/2015/mar/07/palm-oil-peru-23000-hectares-primary-forest

Khor Report's Palm Oil Jan/Feb 2014, Issue 6 (now on public release)

Click here to view full newsletter, pdf: https://tinyurl.com/nqaseng


Earlier, we had released some of the draft articles in this blog. Click on the links below in contents listing! Do check out our feature story on South Asia!


KHOR REPORTS' PALM OIL JAN/FEB 2014, ISSUE 6:
South Asia’s need, 11 million tonne predominance of imported palm oil
Feature: South Asia competition, tariff impacts & local India palm oil. Non-dairy ice cream.

Wilmar-Unilever supply-chain jolt, biodiesel stuttering start
Sustainability: TFT-Greenpeace principles lead
Science: remote-sensing & extreme transparency
Spreads narrow, PO exports to dip & demand shift?

Contents:
Editorial - New challenge for the supply chain
3 briefing Indonesia tepid tender. Malaysia Bangladesh worker deal. US transfats demise.
4 science Remote-sensing technology uses.
5 sustainability Wilmar’s strong pledges
6-7 feature South Asia. Non-dairy ice cream.
8 prices & data Key vegetable oils. Weather outlook. CPO technical view. Price charts.

India increases import duty on refined palm oil from 7.5% to 10%

India finally increases its import duty after months of lobbying by India refiners. Tax differential between crude and refined increases from 5% to 7.5%.

News and view from AmResearch 10 Jan 2014: Bloomberg reported that India has increased the import duty on refined palm oil from 7.5% to 10%. We are not surprised by this development as palm refiners in India have been lobbying for a higher import duty since mid-2013. At that time, the refiners had proposed an import duty of 12.5% on refined palm oil. The Indian Government has given in to the proposal of a higher import duty but at a rate of 10%. Due to the low tax differential between crude and refined palm oil, buyers in India had preferred to import refined palm oil directly instead of buying them from the refiners. It was reported that palm refiners in India were operating at low utilisation rates of only 30%. Companies operating palm refineries in India include Wilmar Adani and Ruchi Soya Industries. We believe that the increase in import duty would not significantly affect the demand for palm oil. India would still be buying palm oil from Indonesia or Malaysia except that there could be some switching from refined palm oil to palm oil in crude form. Currently, the import duty on crude palm oil is 2.5%. The tax differential between crude and refined palm oil would increase to 7.5 percentage points due to the higher import duty on refined palm oil versus 5 percentage points previously. 

"Ice cream" treats & Magnum

Ice cream is a big business for Unilever. “With almost USD13 billion in sales across brands such as (Magnum), Cornetto, Breyers, Klondike, and Ben & Jerry’s, ice cream is Unilever’s single biggest category, accounting for about 15% of total revenue, according to researcher Euromonitor. London and Rotterdam-based Unilever is also the world’s biggest maker of ice cream, with about 20% of the USD85 billion market, ahead of Vevey, Switzerland-based Nestle... Magnum’s sales, which have doubled since 2006, top EUR 1 billion (USD1.24 billion) worldwide this year, making ice cream a standout in Unilever’s sluggish food unit. Sold in 50 countries, Magnum is Europe’s top ice cream brand” (Bloomberg.com, 5 Aug 2012).
 
The key markets differ. Parthenon research says that “The USD12 billion US ice cream market is unique because more than half of total sales come from packaged tubs sold in supermarkets and eaten at home… In Europe, more consumption takes place outside the home in single-serve, more-profitable portions… (not surprisingly) major players.. “are increasingly shifting their focus to so-called frozen novelties -- single-serve treats on sticks or in cones… (which) command 21.2% of the US market” How is Magnum positioned in Asian emerging markets? “Magnum costs about three times as much as locally produced ice cream bars, lending it cachet among the emerging middle class, a group projected to increase from 500 million people to more than 3 billion across Asia by 2030” (Bloomberg.com, 5 Aug 2012).


 
In India, the biggest dairy producer is losing ground in the booming frozen treats market. Gujarat Co-Operative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd advertises that real ice cream contains milk, in a campaign seeking to highlight the lack of the ingredient in most of its global rival’s Indian products: cream, or any other dairy fat… “One reason producers have developed recipes without cream is that milk fat is about five times as expensive as fats derived from palm oil and coconut oil… Another advantage is that dairy-based frozen desserts tend to melt faster than those made from plant oils, according to Doug Goff, food scientist at the University of Guelph. That’s important in a country as hot as India…. (its) consumers have decided they’re happy with frozen desserts using cheaper fats such as palm oil. In the five years to 2012, Gujarat Co-operative’s share of the market for frozen treats fell to 31% from 35% while Unilever’s rose to 21% from 17%, according to researcher Euromonitor…. Indians eat an average of 200 milliliters of ice cream each year, versus 14 liters in the US and 2.2 liters in China” (bloomberg.com, 26 Sep 2013). In 2010, world consumption was 2.4 liters/head (data includes both dairy- and non-dairy-fat based products).
 
Khor Reports Blog only supplementary info: Doug Goff, reports “on the use of non-dairy fats in frozen desserts. A blend of 75% of either fractionated palm kernel oil or coconut oil and 25% of an unsaturated oil, like high oleic sunflower oil, was shown to produce optimal levels of fat destabilization, meltdown and flavour, although coconut oil may take longer to crystallize during aging. Blends of 50% milkfat, 37.5% fractionated palm kernel or coconut oil, and 12.5% high oleic sunflower oil were also shown to be very acceptable” (uoguelph.ca, accessed 1 Dec 2013)

Look out for Khor Reports' Oil Palm Newsletter #6 Jan/Feb 2014!