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 2019, there were various hot news topics such as changes in the trade environment due to the US-China trade friction and the frequent occurrence of natural disasters.
This turbulent situation was reflected in the top 10 news stories in the vegetable oil industry in 2019, the first year of the Reiwa Period. We can only hope that more of the top 10 news reports next year are happier stories.
| Ranking | Item |
| 1 | Impact of continued uncertainty in US-China trade negotiations on international market conditions. |
| 2 | Frequent large-scale natural disasters such as heavy rain, including Typhoon Hagibis. |
| 3 | Start of consideration for business alliance by industry companies. |
| 4 | Continued strong demand for various oils such as rice oil, linseed oil, sesame oil, perilla oil, and olive oil. |
| 5 | Spread and impact of African swine fever virus in countries such as China. |
| 5 | Review of tariff system following the establishment of the US-Japan Trade Agreement. |
| 7 | Increased interest in SDGs and expansion of sustainable certification. Progress in creating schemes for MSPO (Malaysia) and ISPO (Indonesia) for the purpose of establishing certified palm oil. |
| 8 | Significant recovery in Argentine soybean production and good harvest in Brazil; however, US production fell below 100 million tons for the first time in six years. |
| 9 | Exports of Canadian canola to China stagnated, but increased significantly to the EU. Although Canadian rapeseed production is expected to decline, it will maintain a level of 20 million tons. |
| 10 | Consumption tax rate increased (from 8% to 10%) and a reduction tax rate system was introduced. |
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.
