Top Margarine Producing Countries

Margarine, a butter substitute made primarily from vegetable oils, was first developed in France in 1869 by Hippolyte Mège-Mouriès in response to a challenge by Emperor Napoleon III to create a cheaper alternative to butter. Its production expanded rapidly in Europe and North America during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, especially as technological advances enabled the use of vegetable oils instead of animal fats. Today, the top margarine-producing countries are the United States, Germany, China, Russia, and the Netherlands. These nations benefit from advanced food processing industries, abundant access to oilseed crops such as soybeans, sunflower, and rapeseed, and strong domestic and export markets. The global development of margarine production reflects changes in dietary preferences, technological innovation, and agricultural practices over the past 150 years.

Data from United Nations FAO Stat