Global green palm oil output may rise on India, China demand
29/02/2012 (Lankan Business Online), New Delhi - Global production of green palm oil is expected to surge sharply in the coming years on likely rise in demand from India and China, the world's biggest consumers of cooking oils.

Green palm oil is produced in an environment-friendly and socially responsible way.
"If India and China send strong signal, global production (of green palm oil) can increase substantially in next few years," RSPO Secretary General Darrel Webber said.

India, which imports 6.5 million tonne palm oil annually, hardly buys green palm oil, at present. The case is similar with China, he said.

In 2011, global green palm oil output was 5 million tonne, which was produced from one million hectare, certified for adopting sustainable production practices, he added.

Currently, green palm oil comprises of 11 per cent of the world's total palm oil output of 49 million tonne.
Webber further said that only half of the production is sold as green palm oil, which is largely produced in Malaysia and Indonesia, global leaders in palm oil production.

The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) is a non-profit association with a membership of 700 and represents stakeholders of palm oil industry to develop and implement global standards for sustainable palm oil.

Webber said stakeholders can either buy sustainable palm oil in physical form or as virtual certificates to support the cause to protect environment and minimise damage that could otherwise be neglected in normal palm oil plantations.