AJAYS OIL MILLS Lohana Para, Rajkot, Gujarat

Soybean oil is one of the most important edible oil used in India. Soybean oil in its crude form is the second most traded oil in international market after palm oil. Degummed (Crude) and Refined Soya oils are the two traded forms of the commodity in the spot as well as futures markets . India is the 5th largest producer of Soybean in the world. The major producers of Soybean are USA, Brazil, Argentina, China and India. About 85% of the soybean produce in the world is crushed and bi-products of soybean are derived. The demand for Soybean is mostly for its soya oil and soya meal.

Crude Palm Oil (CPO), Crude Palmolein, RBD (refined, bleached, deodorized) Palm Oil, RBD Palmolein and Crude Palm Kernel Oil (CPKO) are the various edible forms of Palm Oil traded in the market. While Oil is the stable derivative (saturated fat, solid at room temperature) of fresh fruit crushed, Olein is relatively unstable (unsaturated fat, liquid at room temperature, but low cholesterol).

RBD Palmolein is used as cooking oil as well as frying oil for food industries such as snack food and ready-to-eat food. It is also used as a raw material for margarine and shortening. It is used in soap, candles and oleochemical industries.

RBD Palmolein is obtained from fractionating refined palm oil to separate liquid parts (olein) from solid parts (stearin). One hectare of oil palm yields approximately 20 FFBs, which when crushed yields 6 tons of oil (including the kernel oil, which is used both for edible and industrial purposes).

Palm oil imported into India is used in various forms- consumed directly as 'Palm Oil' after refining, used in the manufacture of Vanaspati, for blending with other vegetable oil, crude oil and kernel oil for industrial purposes, etc.

The other producing nations are Thailand, Nigeria and Columbia. Around 77% (35 million tons) of global production is exported. Malaysia and Indonesia with 15.7 and 15.6 million tons respectively are major exporters. India, China, Pakistan, the Middle-East Countries and EU are the major importers. Price Competitiveness has been reason for increased consumption of this oil.