AreaChina (Mainland)

Commodity GroupOilseeds, oils and meals

CommodityOil-palm

Date01/04/2021

Policy CategoryProduction

Policy InstrumentSector development measures

DescriptionOpened the door for domestic oil-palm cultivation, by supporting the establishment of a national oil-palm germplasm collection and approving two locally developed varieties for commercial planting.

NotesSector development measures – China – oil palm: In China, recent progress in oil palm research and newly approved varieties are expected to advance the country’s prospects for domestic palm oil production, thereby helping to reduce the country’s dependence on edible oil imports. The Government-backed establishment of a national oil palm germplasm collection has opened the door for commercial cultivation in the country, according to the palm oil certification body RSPO (Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil). Recently, two locally developed varieties have been approved and are now ready for planting on a large scale. Characterized by high and stable yield, potential for wide adaptability, early flowering and fruiting, and resistance to wind and drought, the new varieties are deemed suitable for planting throughout Hainan Province and other regions with similar climatic conditions. Researchers estimated the country’s area suitable for oil palm cultivation at over 2 million hectares.