Editing Cobán (section)

===21st century: African oil palm===
{{See also|Elaeis guineensis}}

[[File:Guatemalapalma2014.JPG|200px|thumb|African oil palm plantation areas in Guatemala as of 2014.{{sfn|Solano|2015|p=6}}]]

There is a large demand within Guatemala and some of its neighbors for edible oils and fats, which would explain how the African oil palm became so prevalent in the country in detriment of other oils, and which has allowed new companies associated to large capitals in a new investment phase that can be found particularly in some territories that form the [[Franja Transversal del Norte|Northern Transversal Strip]] of Guatemala.<ref name=enfoque/> The investors are trying to turn Guatemala into one of the main palm oil exporters, in spite of the decline on its international price.  The most active region is found in [[Chisec]] and Cobán, in [[Alta Verapaz Department]]; [[Ixcán]] in [[Quiché Department]], and [[Sayaxché]], [[Petén Department]], where Palmas del Ixcán, S.A. (PALIX) is located, both with its own plantation and those of subcontractors. Another active region is that of [[Fray Bartolomé de las Casas]] and [[Chahal, Guatemala|Chahal]] in Alta Verapaz Department; [[El Estor]] and [[Livingston, Guatemala|Livingston]], [[Izabal Department]]; and [[San Luis, Petén|San Luis]], [[Petén Department|Petén]], where Naturaceites operates.<ref name=enfoque>{{harvnb|Solano|2015|p=1}}</ref>