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Abstract
A special USDA survey of U.S. edible fats and oils refiners shows that the industry's maximum annual refining capacity at the end of 1975 totaled 17.0 billion pounds (7.7 million metric tons). Another 1.3 billion pounds of capacity was under construction and was scheduled for completion during 1976 and 1977, boosting potential refining capacity to 18.3 billion pounds (8.3 million metric tons). The industry's capacity has expanded about a third since 1967, the last special USDA survey. For the year ending September 1974, the industry operated at about 60 percent of capacity for refining and production of refinery products such as shortening, salad and cooking oils, and margarine oil. The industry's packing rate was about half of its estimated maximum capacity. In 1975 there were 49 companies operating 97 edible fats and oil refineries in the United States. All participated in the USDA survey.