Old trees and aging farmers

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Recommended by Kate Turton, Newsletter Editor

Experts warn palm oil exports could drop by 20% over the next five years

An oil palm farmer walks through a plantation in Pontian, Malaysia, April 24, 2025. REUTERS/Hasnoor Hussain

A major struggle facing the world's top palm oil suppliers, Malaysia and Indonesia, is the difficulty in replacing aging palm oil trees.

Many small farmers, who make up 40% of plantations, can't afford to replant old trees because it means years without income.

As a result, more plantations are full of trees past their prime, leading to declining yields just as global demand is rising.

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