The FAO reported earlier this year that the Global Vegetable Oil price index is at its second lowest level in eleven years. The vegetable oil index has sunk lower than the agency’s counterpart, the Cereal Price Index. The good market supply in relatively inexpensive palm oil helped pull down the index. These low prices are despite the policy inflated demand for vegetable oil as biofuel.  The surge in the production of palm and palm kernel oil, predominantly in Southeast Asia but not exclusively, has improved the diets of millions of poor people that otherwise lack basic calories. However, over half the content of palm oil is the less healthy saturated fat. Soybeans and their derivatives get much of the market attention but there...

TAGS – Soy & Oilseeds, Europe, North America