Because of its versatility, humans consume around 75 million metric tons of oil palm annually.¹ We use it in everything from cooking oil to soaps and lotions.

Most oil palm comes from Indonesia and Malaysia. Together, these two countries produced more than 85% of global production. In fact, Indonesia alone produces around 46 million metric tons of oil palm.²

But that scale comes at a cost.

Environmental considerations

Due to increasing environmental concerns, the industry is under growing pressure to adopt sustainable cultivation practices. Expansion into new areas has slowed, resulting in limited land now available for oil palm cultivation. This makes it vital for growers to maximize the productivity of existing plantations. Fortunately, oil palm is the highest-yielding vegetable oil crop per hectare, producing more oil from less land compared to other oilseed crops.

With less available land, growers need to maximize their yield.

Oil palm cultivation is intensive

Unlike annual crops that must be replanted each season, oil palm is a perennial crop—meaning it continues to grow and produce fruit for many years after initial establishment. This long lifecycle makes the planting phase especially important, as healthy early growth sets the foundation for decades of productivity.

The journey of an oil palm plant begins with the careful selection of seeds, followed by a precise germination process. Seeds are treated to break dormancy, often through controlled temperature and humidity. Once germinated, the young seedlings are planted in small plastic containers, where they are nurtured for the next 4 to 5 months. During this stage, the seedlings develop their first leaves and a robust root system, which is essential for future growth and nutrient uptake.

After this initial growth period, they are carefully transplanted to a nursery, where they remain for more than a year. This extended nursery phase allows the plants to acclimate and strengthen, ensuring only the healthiest and most vigorous plants make it to the field. Such attention to the early life stages of oil palm is crucial; it determines not only the survival rate but also the potential yield once the trees reach maturity.

They do best in the humid tropics within 10˚ north or south of the equator. Suitable climate is important for successful cultivation. Factors affecting oil palm growth and production include:

1. Sun: The plant must have at least five hours of sunshine a day
2. Rainfall: Most palms need 2,000-2,500 mm of evenly distributed rain per year
3. Temperature: Palms thrive in areas with an annual average temperature of 24-28˚ C (75-82˚F)

Around 3 years after field planting, healthy oil palm plants will begin to bear fruit. Each tree will produce between 12 to 14 fresh fruit bunches every year. In order to maximize the yield toward the six fruit bunches, growers need more than a good climate to succeed.

Fertilization for better yield

Standard NPK fertilizers—providing highly demanded primary nutrients—are vital. But, micronutrients, including boron, are just as important for oil palm tree health. Because boron supports the growing tips of roots and shoots and fruiting organs, plants need it to develop and function properly. Boron is also integral to cell membrane formation and function.

Unfortunately, the soils where oil palms grow best are by their nature boron deficient. In addition, heavy seasonal rainfall leaches soluble nutrients out of the soil year after year.

Boron deficiency in oil palm

In the oil palm, boron deficiency is often easily recognizable. The signs quickly appear, but by the time these are visible it is usually too late to take remedial action for that harvest. Once leaf deformities have been spotted, photosynthesis levels in the leaves will have fallen and the next season's crop of 'fruitlets' will be smaller, and of lower quality. Essentially, they will have suffered from malnutrition.

See photos of oil palm plants with boron deficiency.

How to treat boron deficiency in palms

Remedial boron, applied to the growing medium, allows a plantation to revert to normal for the next fruiting season. Proper fertilization plans depend on soil type, plant age, deficiencies occurrence, and rainfall. Three of the most common ways of applying fertilizers for oil palm are:

1. Manual broadcast
2. Mechanical spreader
3. Sub-soil application

Depending on your application, U.S. Borax offers a variety of boron fertilizers for oil palm:

• Soil application:
  • Fertibor^®: For direct application or compound fertilizer production
  • Granubor^®: For direct application or fertilizer bulk blending
• Foliar application:
  • Solubor^®: For amending boron via foliar application or water soluble fertilizer production
  • Solubor Flow: For amending boron via foliar application

Questions?

Still need information about how our products can help oil palm plantations achieve their maximum yield, contact our regional agronomy experts.

Resources

• Crop guide: Oil palm
• Brochure: Boron in oil palm
• Regional solutions: Indonesia and Malaysia

References
¹Shahbandeh M. Palm oil consumption worldwide from 2015/2016 to 2024/2025. April 3, 2025. Statistica.
²Palm oil industry worldwide - statistics & facts. July 17, 2025. Statistic Research Department. Statistica.