World Still Short Of

Edible Fats, Oils

A RECENT survey shows that world production of edible fats and oils is still far short of pre-war level — about 1,800,000 tons —although world population, and demand, is increasing steadily.

With the exception of Germany, how ever, where the position remains acute, the consumption in most European coun tries, per head of population, is rapidly approaching pre-war figures. Germans are still getting less than two-thirds the fats and oils they consumed before the war.

Supply in Britain vastly improved last year when imports rose 13 per cent.

Huge US production has greatly relieved the world shortage. In 1935-39 America imported an average of 850,000 tons of fats and oils each year, but she is now ex porting 300,000 tons.

But on the other side of the picture European production is 250,000 tons a year below pre-war. Exports from China and Manchuria have dropped fi’om 630,000 to about 100,000 tons. Increase in popula tion has reduced India’s annual export able surplus from 500,000 tons to between 100,000 and 150,000 tons. Indonesian palm oil production is about 100,000 tons below the pre-war peak and exports of linseed oil and animal fats from Argentina are down 500,000 tons a year.

Price levels reflect the shortages (prices in sterling): Straits copra has risen from £l2/10/- a ton in 1938 to £79 last year; ground nuts from £l2/10/- to £62; whale oil from £l2/10/- to £B5; tallow from £2l to £BO and NEI palm oil from £l5 to £lOO.