Final answer:
Palm oil significantly contributed to economic imperialism as European nations exploited this commodity, among others, from their colonies to fuel industrial growth back home.
Step-by-step explanation:
Palm oil was a significant factor in Economic imperialism. During the height of European imperialism, the exploitation of colonial resources was crucial to the economies of European powers. The demand for palm oil surged in the 19th century, driven by industrial needs, as it was used as an industrial lubricant, in soap, and as a cooking fat. West African palm oil was particularly sought after, and it became one of the many raw materials extracted from colonies to fuel European industrial growth.
European nations established trade monopolies, exerted control over vast territories, and exploited local resources, including labor. The trade and control of commodities like palm oil were instrumental in sustaining the industrial economies of Europe and exemplified the broader economic practices of imperialism, where colonial territories became suppliers of raw materials to European industries.