It’s a great time to buy this controversial commodity

Palm oil is a controversial industry. But for long-term investors, now looks like a good time to buy in. Lars Henriksson explains why, and picks seven stocks to consider.

You don't have to go far in Malaysia to find palm trees. More than ten percent of the country is covered with them, all planted in neat green rows. They're a vital part of the economy, because every year the country churns out millions of tonnes of palm oil, a key ingredient in all sorts of consumer products including chocolate bars, soap and lipstick.

Record prices for the commodity in 2011 sparked a planting frenzy in Southeast Asia, and supplies ballooned. It's a cyclical industry of course, and thanks to the extra plantations and the global recession, prices have almost halved in two years, putting the squeeze on producers and sending their share prices plummeting.

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Lars is an emerging-markets expert, with many years of 'on the ground' experience hunting down profit opportunities in Asia. Lars spent ten years living in Malaysia and Thailand, seeking out strategic opportunities, before moving to London to manage the Oracle Asia Absolute Fund. In short, Lars has real knowledge of where the opportunities in Asia are.