A research team has converted waste cooking oil (WCO) into recyclable plastics and super-sticky glue, Phys.org wrote.
In the study, researchers used a palladium catalyst to convert WCO unsaturated fatty acids into a long-chain C19-diester, which was then reduced to form a long-chain diol, the 10 December report said.
The resulting diol formed the main linear-chain structure required to mimic polyethylene (PE). Glycerol, another major component of WCO, was turned into branched 1,3-diols.
By polymerising the branched and linear building blocks, the researchers designed a series of new polyesters (P1–P7) to mimic PE properties.
Tests showed that the polyesters matched or sometimes surpassed low-density PE in both flexibility and strength, Phys.org wrote.
The polymers made from branched diols displayed strong adhesive performance on a wide range of surfaces, the report said.
The researchers noted that the findings established the potential of WCO as an alternative feedstock for plastic production.
The results of the study were published on 28 November in the Journal of the American Chemical Society (JACS).
Since December 20, the Russian occupiers have struck at least four Ukrainian oil extraction plants and transshipment terminals (of the companies Allseeds, Kernel, Bunge, Delta Wilmar), and are also constantly targeting port terminals and ships awaiting loading in order to block the operation of Ukrainian plants and export facilities.
In recent weeks, the Russian Federation has intensified attacks on the infrastructure of Kyiv and other cities in order to leave people without electricity and heat during the cold snap (which will reach -10-15 degrees in the next 7 days) and force Ukraine to retreat and agree to the Russian surrender plan proposed.
Strikes on factories and port infrastructure at Black Sea ports in recent weeks have virtually paralyzed seaborne exports from Ukraine and led to a much-needed increase in the price of Russian sunflower oil. But prices for related oils remain at the same levels as a month ago, amid rising supply and inventories.
Offer prices for Russian sunflower oil increased by $40-50/t to $1,240-1,250/t FOB over the month, which led to an increase in demand prices for sunflower oil delivered to India by $25-30/t to $1,350-1,360/t CIF Mumbai.
Demand prices for sunflower oil in Ukraine with delivery to ports in December also increased by $20/t to $1,240/t during the month against the backdrop of supply restrictions and the shutdown of some plants.
March SWOT soybean oil futures rose 3.9% to $1,128/t in the month, but remain broadly under speculative pressure from uncertainty over U.S. biofuel production in 2026-27. However, lower soybean prices and a new record soybean harvest in Brazil will put pressure on prices in the coming months.
India has consolidated its position as the world’s leading importer of Argentine vegetable oils, according to information shared by the Argentine Oilseed Industry Chamber (CIARA) and the Center of Grain Exporters (CEC) on their social media channels.
India meets a large share of its domestic demand for vegetable oils through imports, which are used mainly for human consumption and basic industrial applications. This reliance on foreign supply reflects the pace of growth in domestic consumption, which continues to outstrip the country’s local production capacity.
Official statistics show that India imported more than 14 million tonnes of crude vegetable oils and related products in 2021, with a total value of around US$17.4 billion, placing the country among the most important global markets for the segment. Within this volume, crude soybean oil and crude sunflower oil accounted for a significant share, with major shipments originating from Argentina, Brazil, Russia and Ukraine.
For Argentina, the Indian market represents a strategic opportunity. CIARA-CEC notes that India’s sustained demand supports growth prospects for Argentine soybean and sunflower oil exports, two of the main byproducts of the country’s oilseed complex, in which Argentina holds a prominent position globally.
According to import data published by CIARA-CEC on the social media platform X, Argentina was India’s largest supplier of edible oils in 2025, shipping a total of 3.53 million tonnes between January and December. Crude soybean oil accounted for the bulk of the volume, at 2.88 million tonnes, followed by 0.65 million tonnes of crude sunflower oil.
While Argentina’s vegetable oil exports are largely shipped in bulk, a portion of these volumes is transported in containers, particularly products that undergo additional refining. The chart below shows Argentina’s monthly soybean oil shipments in containers, measured in TEUs. The data is sourced from Datamar.
France is set to end the 2025-26 (July-June) marketing year with the highest stocks of wheat for some years, national agriculture agency FranceAgriMer (FAM) projected in its January balance sheet, but the agency's forecast was still some way below Argus' projections and traders' expectations.
France is forecast to carry 2.80mn t of wheat over into the new July-June marketing year at the end of the 2025-26, FAM said, which is well below Argus figures and market participants' expectations, which are working with 3.5mn t or more.
Aside from slight discrepancies in export volumes, the difference in final ending stocks comes largely from differing estimates for the amount of wheat "collected" from farmers, which is the volume of wheat that enters the domestic market, rather than the actual production.
General market sentiment for some time has been that France would end 2025-26 with large volumes of wheat still in silos. French wheat has struggled to regain the share of the global market it had prior to 2024-25, despite a rebound in production in 2025, after severely challenging conditions for the 2024 crop. Both China and Algeria have vanished from French exporters' order books since 2024, leaving Morocco as the top single destination for French wheat by far in the past two marketing years. But Morocco's demand, too, is now in some doubt, partly because of competition from a record harvest in Argentina, but also because of Morocco's own domestic crop set for recovery to its highest in some years, once the harvest begins in May.
FranceAgriMer also made the following projections for ending stocks of other crops:
- Barley stocks at 1.55mn t, up by 6pc from last month's projection
- Corn stocks at 2.16mn t, up by 16pc on last month's forecast
- Durum wheat stocks at 145,000t, unchanged on the previous forecast
The Ukrainian government is adjusting its domestic biotechnology policies to align with European Union (EU) regulations, according to a report by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).
As the cultivation of genetically engineered (GE) crops is not permitted in the country, its biotechnology regulatory system remains underdeveloped, according to the 22 December report.
In addition, GE products cannot be legally imported into Ukraine, restricting trade in some agricultural and food commodities.
However, there had been reports of unregistered GE production for specific crops, the report said.
“To date, the government of Ukraine lacks a comprehensive regulatory framework that establishes procedures for approving and registering GE events,” the USDA said.
“Ukrainian opinions towards biotechnology remain divided. The general public’s opinion of GE products is generally negative and is influenced by anti-GE messaging from European countries that is re-posted by local media.”
However, many farmers understand GE crops are more cost-effective and provide better financial outcomes, and are supportive of growing them, according to the “Ukraine: Biotechnology and Other New Production Technologies” report.
“Regardless of the statutory restrictions on the cultivation and importation of GE products, industry sources indicated that some small farmers are likely to cultivate certain GE crops (mainly soyabeans and, more recently, corn) to reduce production costs,” the USDA said.
2026 will not bring a significant increase in the price of sunflower oil in Ukraine. This opinion was expressed by the President of the Ukrainian Agrarian Confederation Leonid Kozachenko in a comment to Kommersant Ukrainsky.
“Sunflower oil on the world market is more expensive than palm oil. Due to the war in Ukraine and complex global processes in many countries, inflation has accelerated, and various products, including sunflower oil, have begun to become more expensive,” notes Leonid Kozachenko.
At the same time, it is the high price that has caused a change in consumer preferences in many European countries.
“Even in European countries, where palm oil was previously despised, demand for it has increased, since it is cheaper,” explains the expert.
This trend, according to him, restrains further growth in world prices for sunflower oil, and accordingly in Ukraine.
Logistics remains the second important factor. Transportation and export costs have increased significantly, which has hit producers but has not led to an increase in retail prices. At the same time, according to him, a significant part of farmers is currently in no hurry to sell sunflower.
“At least half of farmers who have granaries have abandoned this product and do not want to sell it. Prices at the level of 26–27 thousand UAH per ton do not suit them, because before they could sell for more than 30 thousand,” notes Leonid Kozachenko.
The combination of these factors, according to the expert, forms relative price stability in the sunflower oil market in 2026.
New Delhi: India's vegetable oil imports rose eight per cent to 13.83 lakh tonnes in December 2025, the second month of the 2025-26 oil year, from the year-ago period, on a sharp rise in soyabean oil and sunflower oil shipments, industry body SEA said on Tuesday.
The world's biggest vegetable oil importer had bought 12.75 lakh tonnes, including edible and non-edible oils, in December 2024.
However, in the first two months of the ongoing 2025-26 oil year (November-October), total vegetable oil imports remained lower by 12 per cent to 25.67 lakh tonnes from the year-ago period.
Overall, palm oil imports declined by 20 per cent to 5.07 lakh tonnes in December 2025 from 6.32 lakh tonnes in the year-ago period, the Solvent Extractors Association of India (SEA) said in a statement.
There was zero import of RBD Palmolein during December, while crude palm oil imports rose to 5.03 lakh tonnes from 3.26 lakh tonnes in the same period.
Sunflower oil imports jumped by 32.19 per cent to 3.49 lakh tonnes in December from 2.64 lakh tonnes in the year-ago period.
Soyabean oil imports also rose 20.23 per cent to 5.05 lakh tonnes from 4.20 lakh tonnes in the said period.
Non-edible oil imports declined to 21,000 tonnes in December 2025 from 45,764 tonnes in the year-ago period.
Indonesia and Malaysia are the major suppliers of palm oil.
Sowing of rabi or winter oilseed crops increased 3.04 per cent to 99.30 lakh hectare as of January 2, compared with 93.27 lakh hectare a year earlier.
Total edible stocks stood at 17.50 lakh tonnes as of January 1, higher than 16.21 lakh tonnes in the previous month.
Leander, Texas and Tokyo, Japan - Jan.12.2026
Global Lecithin and Phospholipids Market reached US$ 6.2 billion in 2023 and is expected to reach US$ 10.3 bllion by 2031, growing with a CAGR of 6.6% during the forecast period 2024-2031.
Market growth is driven by rising demand for functional foods, nutraceuticals, and dietary-supplements, increasing awareness of cardiovascular and liver health, and growing applications in pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. Advancements in extraction and purification technologies, expanding use in emulsifiers, encapsulation, and drug delivery systems, and rising incorporation in processed and fortified foods are further accelerating market expansion. Additionally, increasing consumer preference for natural and plant-based ingredients, along with supportive regulatory frameworks for food and health products, is strengthening sustained demand for lecithin and phospholipids globally.
United States Recent Industry Developments:
- ✅ December 2025: U.S. nutraceutical companies launched high-purity lecithin and phospholipid supplements targeting cognitive health, liver function, and cardiovascular wellness, responding to growing consumer interest in functional ingredients.
- ✅ November 2025: Food manufacturers introduced phospholipid-enriched formulations for beverages, infant nutrition, and dairy products, improving nutrient absorption and product stability.
- ✅ October 2025: Biotech firms advanced soy- and sunflower-derived lecithin extraction technologies, enhancing yield, purity, and sustainability for industrial and food-grade applications.
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