Palm oil primarily grows in tropical regions, particularly across Asia, Latin America, and West Africa, with the vast majority cultivated on islands in Malaysia and Indonesia.
Here's a more detailed breakdown:
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Tropical Regions: Palm oil trees thrive in hot and humid climates with consistent rainfall, characteristic of tropical environments.
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Asia: Southeast Asia, specifically Malaysia and Indonesia, accounts for approximately 90% of global palm oil production. These islands possess the ideal climate and conditions for oil palm cultivation.
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Latin America: Oil palm plantations are expanding in certain countries within Latin America.
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West Africa: Historically, oil palm originated in West Africa, and cultivation continues there, although on a smaller scale compared to Southeast Asia.
The expansion of palm oil plantations has often led to deforestation and habitat loss, particularly impacting biodiverse tropical forests.
