The Sustainable Palm Oil Monitor
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What's happening in the palm oil industry in 2026?
What happened in 2025 will determine what happens in 2026.
Several major developments took place. Most notable of all is how CSPO Watch wrote in 2018 that global trade deals will end the debate on the sustainability of palm oil and whether markets like the European Union should ban it according to the demands of European groups.
That is now a non-issue as the EU grants tariff free access to Indonesian palm oil under the IEU-CEPA trade deal despite warnings that Indonesia could clear 20 million hectares of forest for industrial food and energy projects which signals a grave threat to Indonesia’s climate and biodiversity commitments.
The US could grant Indonesia the same deal with the US depending on the outcome of the Prabowo-Trump meeting scheduled for January 2026.
The EU-MERCOSUR trade deal which was postponed due to numerous protests by European farmers will impact the palm oil industry despite the fact that the EU is becoming less relevant when it comes down to palm oil.
Preferential trade tariffs may mean little to the palm oil industries of Indonesia and Malaysia as far as the EU and US markets are concerned. The saying that "one can lead a horse to water but you cannot make it drink" stands in the way of capitalizing on all these trade deals.
Decades of anti-palm oil campaigns described as "black campaigns" by Indonesia and Malaysia from European and American groups have resulted in a distrust of palm oil whether it be for a healthy meal or to run a car on biofuels.
India as the biggest importer of palm oil from Indonesia and Malaysia as well as a major influencer on soy and sunflower exporting countries remains a dark horse as India struggles with its National Mission on Edible Oils (NMEO)
How will all these global factors play into the development of sustainable palm oil? One that is good for human health, sustainable transport and the natural environment in palm oil producing countries?
At CSPO Watch, we will continue to present views and opinions on the different issues surrounding sustainable commodities. If you have any thoughts or opinions on the issues, please use the handy Contact Us or email The Editor [email protected]
What happened in 2025 will determine what happens in 2026.
Several major developments took place. Most notable of all is how CSPO Watch wrote in 2018 that global trade deals will end the debate on the sustainability of palm oil and whether markets like the European Union should ban it according to the demands of European groups.
That is now a non-issue as the EU grants tariff free access to Indonesian palm oil under the IEU-CEPA trade deal despite warnings that Indonesia could clear 20 million hectares of forest for industrial food and energy projects which signals a grave threat to Indonesia’s climate and biodiversity commitments.
The US could grant Indonesia the same deal with the US depending on the outcome of the Prabowo-Trump meeting scheduled for January 2026.
The EU-MERCOSUR trade deal which was postponed due to numerous protests by European farmers will impact the palm oil industry despite the fact that the EU is becoming less relevant when it comes down to palm oil.
Preferential trade tariffs may mean little to the palm oil industries of Indonesia and Malaysia as far as the EU and US markets are concerned. The saying that "one can lead a horse to water but you cannot make it drink" stands in the way of capitalizing on all these trade deals.
Decades of anti-palm oil campaigns described as "black campaigns" by Indonesia and Malaysia from European and American groups have resulted in a distrust of palm oil whether it be for a healthy meal or to run a car on biofuels.
India as the biggest importer of palm oil from Indonesia and Malaysia as well as a major influencer on soy and sunflower exporting countries remains a dark horse as India struggles with its National Mission on Edible Oils (NMEO)
How will all these global factors play into the development of sustainable palm oil? One that is good for human health, sustainable transport and the natural environment in palm oil producing countries?
At CSPO Watch, we will continue to present views and opinions on the different issues surrounding sustainable commodities. If you have any thoughts or opinions on the issues, please use the handy Contact Us or email The Editor [email protected]
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TOP OF THE NEWS!
US clears FGV to export palm oil after modification of withhold release order KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 16): The US has cleared FGV Holdings Bhd to export palm oil and palm oil products to the US effective Jan 15, 2026, following modification of the withhold release order (WRO). The Edge 
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