Vegetable oils

Origin

Extracted from seeds, fruits and other plant parts.

Main types

Sunflower oil: From sunflower seeds.
Olive oil: From the fruit of the olive tree.
Soybean Oil: From soybeans.
Coconut oil: From the pulp of the coconut.
Palm Oil: From the fruit of the oil palm tree.
Rapeseed (canola) oil: From the seeds of rapeseed.

Nutrients

Fatty acids: Saturated, monounsaturated, polyunsaturated.
Vitamins: Vitamin E, sometimes vitamin K.

Uses

Cooking: Frying, baking, salad dressing.
Food industry: Margarine, mayonnaise, confectionery.
Cosmetics and skin care: Moisturizers, massage oils.
Biofuels: Biodiesel.

Production

Methods: Pressing (cold and hot), solvent extraction.
Purification: Refining, deodorization to improve taste and odor.

Economic importance

Wide use in various industries makes vegetable oils an important commodity on world markets.
Traded on commodity exchanges, their prices depend on yields, climatic conditions and demand.