PCA

The United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) vegetable oil price index in March rose by nearly 24 percent year-on-year to 161.8 points from 130.6 points in the same month last year.

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The FAO attributed the increase to continued spike in the global prices of palm, soy, rapeseed and sunflower oils due to dwindling supplies coupled by rising demand by consumers.

The growth in demand for vegetable oil has also been heightened by the expansion of the global biofuels industry as they require more feedstock for biodiesel production as blend standards rise.

Despite an increase in production, the country's coconut oil exports are projected to remain flat in market year 2025-2026 (October-September) at 1.13 million MT due to higher demand for biodiesel blending, according to a US report.

The country's mandated biodiesel blend will increase to four percent by October from the current three percent mix.