Report

Global edible oils market size was valued at USD 221.3 billion in 2022 and is expected to reach USD 319.5 billion in 2030, with a CAGR of 4.7% during the forecast period between 2023 and 2030.
The dynamic market plays a vital role in the food industry and beyond. Different edible oils like palm oil, sunflower oil, olive oil and avocado oil provide a wide range of choices to various consumers. The prominent oils, like the soybean oil, comes in variations like refined and organic ones. Palm oil, which is also considered a significant one in the edible oil market also includes crude and refined options.
Edible oils are mainly sourced from plants and animals, wherein vegetable and seed oils fall under the plant-based category, while fish and butter oil majorly come under the animal-based category. These oils have varied applications, from household and commercial cooking to various industrial uses like biofuel production, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. Asia-Pacific is an emerging market in this industry with China and India playing the major roles. North America and Europe also reflect culinary traditions that drive the market growth significantly.
As environmental concerns rise, adopting eco-friendly practices poses challenges to the market. Industry players are required to ensure the sustainability factor along with meeting the global demand.
Rising Awareness of Healthier Cooking Oils Contributing to the Demand
The changing dietary habits of consumers substantially impact the global edible oils market. Preference for plant-based and nutrient-rich diets, depicting an inclination of the consumers towards healthier eating, propels the market demand for oils like palm oil, peanut oil, and other specialty oils. Demand for oils which have perceived health benefits, including antioxidants and omega 3 fatty acids, is continuously on the rise. Growing awareness about the ill-effects saturated fats and trans-fat among the consumers has driven the popularity of oils which have healthier fat profiles.
The market is, therefore, experiencing a surge in demand for oils that are in sync with these evolving consumer preferences. Prominent players are diversifying their product offerings to meet the growing demand for health-conscious edible oils. In April 2023, Australia-based Plenty Foods introduced an extremely high oleic safflower oil developed from Australian seeds. The oil claimed to have a high concentration of oleic acid, a monounsaturated fatty acid, and is low in saturated fat. It contained 92% oleic acid (omega 9) contrary to 75% in standard safflower oil, which was naturally derived from SHO safflower seeds approved by Go Resources.
Focus on Sustainability Encouraging Eco-friendly Oil Production
Environmental concerns related to sustainability influence the global edible oils market to a great extent. Loss of biodiversity, carbon emissions associated with the oil production process, and deforestation all have together led the consumers to seek sustainably sourced products, including oils. One of the world's leading certification authorities, Bureau Veritas, even provides a Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil Certificate to ensure that the palm oil is sourced, keeping all the sustainable factors aligned. Such certifications are driving the manufacturers towards adopting eco-friendly practices and gaining consumers' trust. Moreover, consumers also feel responsible towards the environment while choosing the products with such certifications. Hence, transparency, traceability and eco-friendly initiatives addressing and negating the environmental impact of oil product are driving the growth of global edible oils market.
Expansion of the Food Sector and Constant Product Innovations
The edible oils market is witnessing significant growth, primarily driven by the expanding food service industry worldwide and the increasing utilization of edible oils in biofuel production. This growth is expected to continue due to the joint efforts of global market players to introduce innovative products. The growing demand for biofuels worldwide is a key factor propelling market expansion. Continuous innovation in formulating new products, like the development of healthier oils, caters to changing dietary trends as well as demands for varied culinary experiences. Investments in research and development related to producing unique variants of edible oils contribute to the market growth. Other applications of these oils, involving production of cosmetics and pharmaceuticals, also retain consumers' faith in these oils for regular consumption.
In March 2023, Chevron Corp. worked in partnership with Corteva Inc. and Bunge Ltd. to create renewable fuels from rapeseed crops. They took the advantage of opportunities in the renewable fuels market by introducing distinctive winter Canola hybrids that yield plant-based oil with a lower carbon footprint.
Asia-Pacific Emerging as a Larger Market for Edible Oils
Asia-Pacific is undoubtedly emerging as a strong force in the global edible oils market. With an ever-increasing population rate, rapid economic growth leading to urbanization and evolving dietary preferences of the consumers, the region is experiencing a growing demand for edible oils. Many prominent players are focusing on expansion by reaching out to this region in countries like China and India. The demand for healthier oil options in this region is growing frequently. Therefore, this expansion of businesses in the region is poised for significant growth in the future with multiple opportunities coming up as a result of diverse culinary traditions. Asia-Pacific is a dynamic as well as promising market for edible oils with a blend of both modern and traditional influences. In March 2023, US-based company Certified Origins (CO) introduced its recently certified Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO) with Roman-origin protection in China.
Impact of COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic led to a surge in demand as more individuals cooked at home during lockdowns. However, the market faced substantial challenges in the form of labour shortages, transportation disruptions, and global supply chain issues, which impacted both production and distribution. These challenges resulted in price fluctuations, introducing uncertainties into the market. At the same time, the pandemic led to a shift in consumer preferences towards healthier oils, driven by heightened health concerns. This change influenced market dynamics, causing fluctuations in prices for these health-conscious options. The crisis also underscored the industry's struggle to adapt to evolving consumer behavior amid logistical hurdles. The market has gained prominence after the realisation of ill effects of traditional oils on the health of consumers, thanks to the pandemic that accelerated this realization.
Key Players Landscape and Outlook
Global edible oils market is considered having a competitive landscape with key players such as Cargill, Incorporated, Archer Daniels Midland Company, Bunge Global SA, Louis Dreyfus Company B.V., Sime Darby Plantation, and Borges Agricultural & Industrial Edible Oils, S.A.U. Factors driving the growth include the increasing demand for healthy and natural food products, rising population, and improving economic conditions in developing countries. The supermarkets and hypermarkets segment dominates the edible oils and fats market, with e-commerce platforms anticipated to stimulate the domestic market. The market is highly competitive, with companies competing on product diversity, brand identification, scale of operations, distribution channels, innovation, mergers and acquisitions, and globalization. The future growth curve of edible oils market relates to the ability of global giants to develop healthy, flexible, and high sensory profiles of innovative edible oils. For instance , in May 2022, France-based biodiesel and vegetable oil group Avril increased the number of sunflower seeds it could crush, as well as the amount of sunflower oil it produced. Increasing independence of sunflower oil and oilseed meal was one of the project's main objectives.