The Japan Oilseed Processors Association asks related media personnel to choose the top 10 new stories involving the vegetable oil industry each year, and we will be sharing the selections here.
In 2015, both the United States and South America had excellent crop yields, and soybean production is expected to exceed previous records for the 2nd year in a row. Canadian rapeseed production was initially expected to decline but then made a remarkable recovery. In the midst of these conditions, despite the economic slowdown in developing countries, the demand for oils remains strong, and the international value of these products maintains a high level. In Japan, the low yen exchange rate has caused major increases in expenses for oil manufacturers who depend on imported raw materials for their production.
The Top 10 News Stories in the Vegetable Oil Industry for 2015 reflect these conditions. We can only hope that more of the top 10 news reports next year are happier stories.
| Ranking | Item |
| 1 | TPP summary agreement. Taxes on vegetable oils to be eliminated in 5 - 10 years after ratification. |
| 2 | New oils such as rice bran oil, flaxseed oil, perilla oil, and coconut oil become popular for home use. |
| 3 | As raw material costs ramp up due to low yen exchange rates, the oil industry makes efforts to achieve fair pricing. |
| 4 | United States soybean production achieves the highest yield in history for the second year in a row with over 100 million tons harvested. |
| 5 | Japanese soybean oil production increases for the second year in a row (could reach the 2 million ton level for the first time in 3 years). |
| 6 | There are concerns about the impact TPP could have on domestic Japanese livestock. Effective national policy expected. |
| 7 | Canada's rapeseed production expected to reach 15.55 million tons. Although a drastic reduction was predicted at the start of the season, the crops recovered dramatically. |
| 8 | Product labeling implemented. Functional labeling for food products starts. |
| 9 | Usage ratios for both soybean meal and rapeseed meal to produce animal feed are increasing. Rapeseed meal usage in July, August, and September reached 5.4%, the highest level ever recorded. |
| 10 | Soybean production in Brazil is producing the largest harvests in history for the third year in a row, reaching levels of around 100 million tons. |
Note: The Top 10 News stories for the year are chosen by votes from 9 oil production industry trade paper companies and the chairman of the Japan Oilseed Processors Association. In addition, Canadian rapeseed production is predicted to reach 17.2 million tons according to the USDA December forecast released after voting.
