ECONOMIC SUSTAINABILITY IN THE PALM OIL SECTOR: A BIBLIOMETRIC REVIEW USING R STUDIO

The growth of the global palm oil industry with the call to balance its significant economic contributions with pressing sustainability challenges has been a subject of debate for decades.In line with this pressing need, this study aims to examine the evolution of academic publications on economic sustainability in the palm oil industry through a bibliometric review of scholarly literature spanning from 1996 to 2025.The study analyses publication trends across different dimensions, including authorship, institutional affiliations, geographical distribution, and evolving topic trends.By assessing the trajectory of academic discourse, this study identifies key shifts from production-focused studies to research emphasising environmental impact mitigation, policy frameworks, and sustainable certification mechanisms.Findings from the review suggest that interdisciplinary collaborations have increased over time, reflecting a growing recognition of the complex interplay between economic growth and sustainability in the palm oil sector.In addition, this review highlights gaps in existing research, particularly concerning smallholder economic resilience and policy harmonisation.The study contributes to the academic and policy discourse by providing insights into future research directions that can support sustainable industry practices.