The edible oils and fats market is expected to grow from US$ 52,920.00 million in 2022 to US$ 78,686.61 million by 2030; it is expected to record a CAGR of 5.1% from 2023 to 2030.
Consumers consider plant-based products healthier than conventional products. Rising health consciousness among consumers propels the demand for plant-based and low-fat products. Thus, manufacturers develop plant-based shortenings and low-fat oils to cater to the rising demand. Plant-based shortenings are non-hydrogenated and do not contain cholesterol and trans-fat. Thus, it is considered a healthier alternative to conventional shortenings. Moreover, the increasing prevalence of cardiovascular diseases, obesity, and diabetes over the years is expected to boost the demand for low-fat products such as low-fat oils among various industries, including bakery & confectioneries, dairy & frozen desserts, and snacking.
Rising awareness regarding animal protection and environmental sustainability creates the popularity of plant-based products. As per the data published by “Veganuary” (a nonprofit organization encouraging people to go vegan for the whole month of January) in 2021, ~5.8 million people registered for the “Veganuary Campaign.” Thus, owing to the rising inclination toward veganism, growing demand for plant-based shortening and low-fat oils among various end-use industries is expected to create lucrative opportunities in the edible oils and fats market during the forecast period.
Based on type, the edible oils and fats market is segmented into oils and fats. The oils segment is projected to register the largest share during the forecast period. Vegetable oils can be derived from seeds, cereal grains, nuts, and fruits. The most consumed oils are olive, sunflower, palm, canola, coconut, safflower, corn, peanut, cottonseed, palm kernel, and soybean. Generally, vegetable oils are used in food preparation, and crude oil is added for flavor. Vegetable oil is also used in the production of animal feed. Sunflower oil is a nonvolatile oil extracted from sunflower seeds. The oil is majorly used in formulations as an emollient in pharmaceutical applications. It contains a large amount of vitamin E. Sunflower oil is used to cook snack foods such as potato chips or French fries. This oil is also used in manufacturing mayonnaise and oil-based dressings. Dietary supplements made from sunflower oil have been marketed to treat eczema. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), sunflower seed oil production is expected to reach 60 million tons by 2050 owing to its rising per capita consumption.
By geography, the edible oils and fats market is primarily segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific (APAC), the Middle East & Africa (MEA), and South & Central America. In 2022, Asia Pacific held the largest market share during the forecast period. However, South & Central America is a fastest growing region. The edible oils and fats market in South & Central America is segmented into Brazil, Argentina, and the Rest of South & Central America. The snack food sector in the South & central America is booming, owing to the rising consumer preference for different snacking options such as frozen snacks, savory snacks, fruit snacks, confectionery snacks, and bakery snacks. Edible oils and fats play an integral role, as they provide distinctive flavors to food and provide unique and desirable functions in manufacturing snacks. For example, oils are the frying media for deep-fried food, and in pastries, vegetable oil-based shortenings are added to prevent the flour and other ingredients from clumping. Hence, the rising demand for different snacks, and the benefits associated with the edible oils and fats further surging the demand for edible oils and fats in the snacking sector in the region.
Furthermore, the demand for edible oils and fats in the end-use industry such as animal nutrition has seen rise in the region. According to the Oil World, in 2022, China purchased around 70% of the Brazilian soybean oil, mainly for animal protein consumption. Moreover, expanding animal nutrition, pharmaceuticals, and nutraceuticals industries drive the demand for specialized edible oils and fats. These industries require specific types of oils for various applications, such as in animal feed formulations and pharmaceutical formulations. As these sectors grow and diversify, the demand for their unique requirements increases, fueling the edible oils and fats market growth in South & Central America.
The leading players in the edible oils and fats market are Bunge Ltd, Archer-Daniels-Midland Co., Fuji Oil Co Ltd, Kao Corp, AAK AB, J-Oil Mills Inc, Cargill Inc, Olam Group Ltd, ConnOils LLC, and Louis Dreyfus Co BV. These players are developing various products to address consumers' growing demand.
The size of the edible oils and fats market has been derived using primary and secondary sources. To begin the research process, exhaustive secondary research has been conducted using internal and external sources to obtain qualitative and quantitative information related to the market. Also, multiple primary interviews have been conducted with industry participants to validate the data and gain more analytical insights. Participants of this process include industry experts such as VPs, business development managers, market intelligence managers, national sales managers, and external consultants—including valuation experts, research analysts, and key opinion leaders—specializing in the ready-to-eat meals market.