Since then, the plant has been naturalized to grow in other tropical, subtropical, and even temperate regions throughout India, China, South America, and the U.S. While some castor plants have been cultivated for their ornamental beauty and bright red flowers, commercial castor plants are bred for optimal oil production.
How is castor oil produced?
As with most oilseeds, the castor oil production process begins with dehulling and cleaning the beans to remove shells, stems, and other foreign materials. Oil processors then heat batches of dehulled castor beans in steam-jacketed cookers or forced hot air vessels to remove moisture and harden the seeds for more effective mechanical pressing.
How big is castor oil production in 2021?
In 2021, global castor oil production topped 767,000 tons. To keep up with increasing worldwide demand for castor¡¯s bountiful byproducts, processors must address the challenges that plague the castor oil production process.
Which country produces the most castor oil in the world?
India leads global castor production, producing as much as 350,000 tons of castor oil annually, accounting for more than 75% of total worldwide production and more than 90% of total exports. China and Brazil trail India in castor oil processing, respectively producing about 12% and 5% of the total global volume.