UN Unilever NV

   By Sameer Mohindru and Surabhi Sahu 
 

SINGAPORE--Netherlands-based Unilever has reduced the use of palm oil in manufacturing food products but the oil's use in its non-food products is rising, a senior executive said Wednesday.

Unilever has been making more low-fat spreads, which has reduced the use of margarine--made from palm oil--Jan Kees Vis, Development Director, told Dow Jones Newswires on the sidelines of an industry event.

In recent years, Unilever's consumption of palm oil and its derivatives has remained almost unchanged around 1.3 million-1.4 million metric tons a year, as lower use in food products has been offset by higher consumption in non-food products.

Write to Sameer Mohindru at sameer.mohindru@dowjones.com and Surabhi Sahu at surabhi.sahu@dowjones.com

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