A gift from nature for humans, palm oil not only comes with a variety of health benefits but also generates huge economic benefits for world trade. Red palm oil is a variant of this nature’s gift. Red palm oil originated from the west coast of Africa. It was brought over to Southeast Asia in the 20th century, particularly in the 1970s. By the 1980s, the land area and production volume of palm oil in Southeast Asia exceeded that of Africa. Malaysia and Indonesia are the top palm oil growers in the region. Palm oil was initially supplied by farmers in West Africa. In 1848, Dutch colonizers brought the plant to Jawa. In 1910, British colonizers set up Sime Darby in modern-day Malaysia to grow the trees that produce palm oil, which can last up to 25 years. Indonesia and Malaysia produce over 80% of the world’s palm oil.

Palm oil has become one of the pillars of economic development in Malaysia. Palm oil plays an important role in the world’s vegetable oil market. It accounts for more than 30% of the world’s total vegetable oil production. Palm oil is a crop that can be harvested all year round. Palm oil is the greatest rival of the world-leading soybean oil. Other competitors of palm oil include rapeseed oil, sunflower oil, peanut oil, cottonseed oil, palm kernel oil, and olive oil. Palm oil is an essential ingredient in making hand soap. However, due to the many variations, including palm oil, red palm oil, white palm oil, palm olein, palm stearin, palm kernel oil, and palm super olein, it is difficult for those unfamiliar with the crop to differentiate the types of palm oil. In its virgin form prior to the refining process, the oil is known as “red palm oil” after deriving from the reddish pulp of the oil palm tree’s fruit, whereas “white palm oil” is the result of processing and refining.

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Red palm oil, which is high in carotene, derives its name from its deep red-orange hue. The premium red palm oil (Carotino Premium, used in food) is extracted through a thorough pressing process from the oil palm fruit.