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Why did demand for whale oil increase around the start of the 20th century?

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whaling Japanese factory ship hauling a minke whale through a slipway in the ship's stern, 1992.

Around the turn of the 20th century, the demand for whale oil increased significantly because the production of soap and margarine began to outpace the available supply of fats.1

This surge in demand was facilitated by the development of the hydrogenation process, which allowed manufacturers to transform liquid whale oil into a solid fat suitable for these products. This shift marked a transition in the use of whale oil, which had previously seen its role as an illuminant decline following the 19th-century rise of petroleum-based kerosene.123

The increased demand incentivized the expansion of the whaling industry, leading to the establishment of new shore stations and the adoption of modern technological innovations—such as steam-powered catchers and factory ships—to increase processing efficiency and reach previously inaccessible whale populations.1