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 2018, there have been changes in the trade environment due to trading friction between China and the United States, as well as numerous natural disasters such as typhoons in Japan. Although the demand for a variety of oils remains strong, future cost conditions have become uncertain.
The Top 10 News Stories in the Vegetable Oil Industry for 2018 reflect these conditions. We can only hope that more of the top 10 news reports next year are happier stories.
| Ranking | Item |
| 1 | Severe changes in the trading environment due to trade frictions between China and the United States and their effects on the industry |
| 2 | Companies in this industry suffer losses due to the frequent typhoons, heavy rain, earthquakes, and other natural disasters |
| 3 | Due to firm commitment to good health and expanded demand for oils for raw consumption, demand for a variety of oils such as rice bran, flaxseed, sesame, perilla, and olive remains strong |
| 4 | Future cost conditions have become uncertain due to factors such as changes in raw material costs, labor shortages, and increasing shipping costs |
| 5 | 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics organization supply standards recommend RSPO, MSPO, and ISPO certification systems for palm oil |
| 6 | Soybean production hits record highs in the United States and Brazil, while soybean production in Argentina declines drastically |
| 7 | Canadian rapeseed production exceeds 20 million tons two years in a row, while production in the EU and Australia declines drastically |
| 8 | Report states that the genetic modification labeling system will continue to not require these labels on vegetable oils |
| 9 | Strengthened cooperation between the IOC (International Olive Council) and the Japan Oilseed Processors Association |
| 10 | With the ratification process in progress for TPP11 (scheduled to come into effect in December) and the European Union and Japan Economic Partnership (scheduled to come into effect in February 2019), free trade agreements continue to develop |
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.
