In Bangladesh the per capita consumption of edible oil increased by 20 per cent in the last five years to reach 18.4 kgs in 2020 while the overall consumption of edible oil increased by 36 per cent in five years to reach 3.03 million tonnes in 2020 against 2.22 million tonnes in 2015.
The facts were presented at an international webinar titled “Edible Oils & Fats Consumption Trend in Bangladesh” organized by the Council of Palm Oil Producing Countries (CPOPC).
The webinar was a part of CPOPC Webinar Series on “Sustainable palm oil towards a better world” with a special focus on the growing consumption trends of the highest consumed palm oil, its qualitative aspects over other edible oils and its role in meeting the increasing demand of the people and the most crucial SDGs in the country.
Eminent industry experts AKM FakhrulAlam, Regional Manager, Bangladesh and Nepal, Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC); Dr. Puspo Edi Giriwono, Head, Southeast Asian Food and Agricultural Science and Technology (SEAFAST) Center, IPB University and Faisal Mahmud, Senior Marketing Manager, Bangladesh Edible Oil Ltd (BEOL) discussed the key industry trends, challenges, and recommendations to enhance the market share of palm oil in Bangladesh to meet the ever-growing demands of the country’s consumers.
Dr. YusofBasiron, Executive Director and Dupito D. Simamora, Deputy Executive Director, CPOPC gave remarks and shared perspectives while YashKansal, Deputy Managing Director (India), APCO Worldwide moderated the webinar, a press release said.
DrYusofBasiron, Executive Director of CPOPC said, “Bangladesh plays a major role in the palm oil industry as the nation is one of the largest consumers and importers of palm oil in the world. Palm oil is widely used in every household, food-processing industries and hotels across Bangladesh.”
He underscored the commitments of key palm oil producing countries to supply sustainable palm oil have been proven with the enactment of the following sustainability schemes- Indonesia Sustainable Palm Oil (ISPO) and Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO).
AKM FakhrulAlam of MPOC said,“Bangladesh is mostly dependent on the imports of palm oil with increase in the consumption of oils and fats as to cope up with these demands imports eventually increases.”
Dr. PuspoGiriwono of SEAFAST said, “Palm oil is the most productive vegetable oil in terms of land consumption as it takes less land for its cultivation as compared to other edible oils such as soyabean oil. Hence, palm oil is one of the best oils when it comes to feeding a larger population.”
Faisal Mahmud of BEOL said,“There is still a necessity of further communication efforts being out by palm oil marketers in Bangladesh.”
Dupito D. Simamora, Deputy ED of CPOPC said,“For the awareness and image issues of palm oil, it is perhaps time to be offensive rather than being defensive.”
