Navigating The 2026 Global Palm Oil Landscape: A PESTEL Analysis of Structural Market Shifts, Trade Policy Dynamics, And the Rise of Eco-Protectionism

This journal analyzes the global palm oil landscape towards 2026 amidst post-El Niño recovery and strengthening non-tariff trade barriers such as EUDR. Using a Qualitative Literature Review approach based on the PESTEL framework, the study synthesizes the IPOSS 2026 Outlook and literature from 2020–2025. Findings indicate a structural shift from land expansion to productivity enhancement, strengthening of the B40/B50 biodiesel mandate, and the risk of "eco-protectionism" triggering market bifurcation and exclusion of smallholders due to traceability demands. The need for "One Data" integration, standard harmonization, and post-WTO DS593 dispute diplomacy is emphasized.