Browse Data and Analysis

This report analyzes all vegetable oil markets in Korea, whether for food or industrial use, and covers oils derived from soybean, palm, palm kernel, olive, rapeseed/canola, grapeseed, sunflower seed, corn, coconut, sesame, perilla seed (a leafy plant from the mint family), and rice bran.

Post revised down Indonesia palm oil exports estimate to 27.9 million metric ton (MMT) on lower supplies, higher domestic use and expected reduced export demand for 2023/24. Palm oil use for the biodiesel industry is revised down to 12.3 MMT for 2023/24 on lower-than-expected biodiesel distribution in 2023.

Post revises down MY 2023/24 soybean production to 158.5 MMT due to poor weather outlooks resulting from El Niño, particularly in the Centre West states, which may affect final yields currently projected at 3.507 kg/ha.

Ample opportunities exist for U.S. agricultural exports to South Korea. Highlighted in the chart above, U.S. agricultural product exports were a record $9.5 billion in 2022, up 2 percent from 2021. South Korea is the sixth largest export market for the United States, thanks in part to a successful free trade agreement (KORUS) between the two countries and a robust demand for high-quality U.S. food products.

On October 17, 2023, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA) published the revised "Administrative Measures on Labeling Agricultural Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) (Draft for Comments)." Significant updates in the revised draft...

Post increased its forecast for soybean planted area to 45.4 million hectares for 2022/23, up previously from 45.2 million hectares.

For 2023/24, Post forecasts soybean planted area at 45.2 million hectares (ha), and production at 159 million metric tons (MMT), based on a yield of 3.52 mt per ha.

Soybean imports are increased to 98 million metric tons (MMT) and 98.5 MMT in marketing year (MY) 22/23 and MY 23/24, respectively, on rebounding soybean meal (SBM) and soybean oil demand.

On June 14, 2023, India’s Ministry of Finance issued Public Notice No. 39/2023 - Customs that reduces the import duty on refined sunflower and soybean oils.

FAS Manila forecasts copra production at 3 million MT for MY 2023/24 because of the coming El Niño and the break from the 3-year productive cycle. Soybean meal imports are projected to reach 2.9 million MT because of expected expansion in the broiler and aquaculture sectors.

The Korea oilseeds and products market is mature with limited annual change, reflecting stable consumer demand and stagnant domestic production.

In 2022/23, Brazil is forecast to reap a record soybean crop of 153 million metric tons (MMT). Post maintained the forecast for planted area expansion of 43.3 million hectares (ha). Harvest lags behind schedule compared to previous years,