There are 10 World’s Biggest Oil Palm Fruit Producer Countries in 2019 based on data from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), United Nations. So far, oil palm is an important tree in the world related to the functionality of various processed products in human life. Taxonomically, oil palm has the Latin language Elaeis guineensis which belongs to the Aceraceae family. This plant is still in the same family as coconut (Cocos nucifera) and date palm (Phoenix dactylifera) and is one of the commodities most favored by entrepreneurs in the plantation sector, especially in South-East Asia.
The harvest of this plant, in the form of palm oil, has many benefits and can be processed into a variety of useful products in the fields of health, automotive, and beauty. Products such as soap, hair oil, lotion, margarine, wall paint, and even biodiesel are some examples of outputs that use palm oil as their raw material.
With the various benefits provided to humans and the potential demand for palm oil which tends to increase in line with market demand and population growth, of course, many private companies, governments, and farmers are competing to cultivate oil palm plants. Several countries have cultivated this plant for a long time in relation to supporting the economic sector. Here are some countries that have the largest oil palm fruit in the world based on data from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in 2019.
Ranking Table of the 10 World’s Biggest Oil Palm Fruit Producer Countries in 2019 Based on Data from the Food and Agriculture Organization
| Rank | Countries | Production of Palm Oil Fruits in 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| (tons) | ||
| 1 | Indonesia | 245,633,087 |
| 2 | Malaysia | 99,065,364 |
| 3 | Thailand | 16,772,430 |
| 4 | Nigeria | 10,025,174 |
| 5 | Colombia | 8,390,314 |
| 6 | Guatemala | 3,269,574 |
| 7 | Papua New Guinea | 2,681,878 |
| 8 | Ghana | 2,655,440 |
| 9 | Brazil | 2,583,293 |
| 10 | Honduras | 2,337,200 |
| Sources : FAO Statistical Database, 2019 | ||
Brief Description 10 World’s Biggest Oil Palm Fruit Producer Countries in 2019
1. Indonesia
Indonesia is the biggest producer of oil palm fruit in the world with a total production of 245 million tons in 2019. In this country, geographically, the area of oil palm planted is approximately 14 million hectares. Palm oil has become an extraordinary tree in Indonesia. Until Now, the expanding area of oil palm still happens in some areas.
Geographically, oil palm plantation in Indonesia is widely spread on the islands of Sumatra, Kalimantan, and Sulawesi. Several provinces in Indonesia had the largest plantation land in 2017. It was included Riau, which was recorded at 2.21 million hectares, followed by North Sumatra with an area of 1.74 million hectares, then West Kalimantan with an area of 1.53 million hectares, Central Kalimantan. 1.51 million hectares, South Sumatra 1.19 million hectares, East Kalimantan 1.08 million hectares.
The development and management of oil palm plantations in Indonesia is managed by 3 parties. These are private corporations, farmers, and the government. Statistically, palm oil players in Indonesia are dominated by private companies with 7.7 million hectares (ha) or 54% of the total area of oil palm in Indonesia. Meanwhile, the area of Famers plantations reaches 5.8 million ha or 41% of the total area. The oil palm area owned by the State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) reaches 715 thousand ha or 5% of the total cultivated area.
2. Malaysia
Malaysia is the 2nd Biggest producer of palm fruit with a production of 99 million tonnes in 2019. Malaysia’s palm oil plantation area is around 5.2 million hectares in 2018 with CPO productivity above 4 tonnes per hectare.
Geographically, Malaysian oil palm plantations are spread across several states such as Sabah, Sarawak, Johor, and Pahang, and several other states but the states of Sabah, Sarawak, Johor, and Pahang are the areas with the largest oil palm plantations compared to other states in Malaysia. In detail, the area of oil palm plantations in Sabah is around 1.55 million hectares, Sarawak is 1.50 million hectares, Johor is 745 thousand hectares, Pahang is 732 thousand hectares.
3. Thailand
Thailand is the 3rd Biggest palm oil producer in the world with oil palm fruit production reaching 16 million tons with an area of oil palm plantations reaching 800 thousand hectares. Most of the oil palm grown in the southern region of Thailand is planted in an area known as “Pru Kaching”.
4. Nigeria
Nigeria is the 4th biggest country with a production of 10 million tonnes of oil palm fruit. Nigeria’s cultivated area covers twenty-four states. Of all states, there are some states that have the biggest production area namely Akwa-Ibom, Abia, Rivers, Edo, Imo, Ondo, Bayelsa, Cross River, and Delta. In this country, small-scale farmers cultivate these billion plants and process their crops manually. In terms of industry, Nigerian oil palm plantations managed by corporations cover an area of around 72 thousand hectares (ha).
5. Colombia
Columbia is the 5th biggest producer in the world with a total production of 8.3 million tonnes of the palm fruit. It’s oil palm plantation area reaches 480 thousand hectares. The development of the country’s oil palm cultivation is carried out in Puerto Concordia, Meta, in southeastern Colombia near the Amazon region, Charras Guaviare, and Marialabaja in northern Colombia.
6. Guatemala
Guatemala is the 6th biggest producer in the world with a total production of 3.2 million tonnes of the palm fruit. Most areas of oil palm cultivation were concentrated on the southern coast and in the Izabal department. In this country, in the mid-1980s, oil palm began to replace cotton plantations in the south of Guatemala. Fom there, it extended to the north area.
7. Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea is the 7th biggest producer in the world with a total production of 2.68 million tonnes of the palm fruit. In this country, there are some areas of plantation of oil palm namely West New Britain, New Ireland, Milne Bay, and Oro-Popondetta.
8. Ghana
Ghana is the 8th biggest producer in the world with a total production of 2.65 million tonnes of the palm fruit. Geographically, Oil palm is grown in the forest belt in Ghana with two main oil palm varieties cultivated in Ghana namely Dura and Tenera.
9. Brazil
Brazil is the 9th biggest producer in the world with a total production of 2.58 million tonnes of the palm fruit. In this country, there are some states of the biggest area of Oil Palm namely Bahia, Para, and Amazonas. In 2011, the State of Bahia has around 54.662 hectares (ha) of oil palm plantation, followed by Para’ with 53.968 hectares (ha), and Amazonas with 450 hectares (ha).
10. Honduras
Honduras is the 10th biggest producer in the world with a total production of 2.3 million tonnes of the palm fruit. In Honduras, the main center of the Oil Palm Plantation is concentrated along the Caribbean coast around 68,000 hectares of palm planted along the coastal plains of Atlántida and the Sula and Aguán valleys.
Bibliography of 10 World’s Biggest Oil Palm Fruit Producer Countries in 2019
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