IIGF观点 | 孙瑾、周正韵等：棕榈油行业绿色贸易的发展路径与政策建议

Core Insights - The article emphasizes the urgent need for sustainable palm oil trade in the context of global low-carbon and sustainable trade transformations, highlighting China's significant role as a major importer and its impact on upstream production countries [1][2]. Group 1: Importance and Urgency of Sustainable Palm Oil - Palm oil is the most produced and traded vegetable oil globally, crucial for food processing, daily chemicals, and bioenergy, but its production is linked to deforestation, peatland degradation, biodiversity loss, and greenhouse gas emissions [1]. - The international trade rules surrounding forest-risk commodities like palm oil are becoming increasingly stringent, shifting from voluntary commitments to mandatory compliance for market access [2]. Group 2: China's Palm Oil Import Structure - In 2024, China's palm oil import volume is projected to be approximately 2.8 million tons, making it the second-largest importer globally, following India [2]. - China's palm oil supply is heavily reliant on imports from Southeast Asia, particularly Indonesia and Malaysia, creating a close connection between its trade and ecological risks in tropical forest regions [2]. Group 3: Market Structure and Key Players - The palm oil import and trade in China are dominated by a few large grain and oil trading companies, including state-owned enterprises and multinational corporations, which play a critical role in ensuring domestic supply stability [3][4]. Group 4: Challenges in Sustainable Trade - The main challenges for sustainable palm oil trade in China stem from the inability of the current trade system to convert sustainability requirements into stable economic incentives, leading to difficulties in forming a "green premium" [6][10]. - Institutional constraints arise from the lack of a unified governance framework for forest-risk commodities, with companies often driven by external market pressures rather than domestic regulatory expectations [6][7]. Group 5: Financial and Market Mechanisms - The trade financing system has not effectively supported sustainable palm oil trade, as traditional financing tools do not incorporate sustainability criteria into their risk assessment models [8]. - There is a weak demand foundation for sustainable palm oil in the downstream market, with many companies prioritizing price stability and supply reliability over sustainability commitments [9][10]. Group 6: Recommendations for Improvement - Policy recommendations include establishing clear information disclosure and risk identification requirements for palm oil imports, enhancing supply chain due diligence capabilities among companies [11]. - Financial institutions should gradually incorporate environmental and deforestation risks into their trade financing frameworks to alleviate the financial friction faced by companies transitioning to sustainable practices [12]. - The focus should be on embedding sustainability requirements into procurement policies of large oil-using enterprises to create stable demand for sustainable palm oil without relying solely on consumer willingness to pay a premium [12].