Edible oil · importers
Brazil closes the top twenty at $2.0B in the fats and oils chapter, even though it is a huge producer of oilseeds and vegetable oil.
| Market | HS 15 imports |
|---|---|
| United States | $17.2B |
| India | $16.8B |
| China | $12.6B |
| Netherlands | $8.6B |
| Italy | $7.0B |
Figures are for the whole of HS chapter 15 (animal or vegetable fats and oils). Source: UN Comtrade, as reported by national authorities; latest available year per market.
South Korea is above at $2.0B and Norway below at $1.9B. Brazil’s 1.4% share of reported world imports is almost the same as both, so the last places in the top twenty are hard to separate. The chapter is 0.7% of its $277.5B imports and ranks 19th among its import chapters, a strong place next to machinery at $42.8B and fuels at $36.6B.
A producing country imports fats and oils that it does not make in volume: olive oil and other premium oils for consumers, specialty fats for confectionery and bakery, and oils for industries with particular specifications. Palm-based ingredients can also be imported for manufacturers. The demand is therefore about variety and specification, not about filling a general shortage.
Ask the importer what its buyers need that local oils cannot supply. Premium retail buyers care about origin story and packaging, while manufacturers care about technical properties, so a producer should decide which group it can serve well and prepare either marketing material or laboratory data accordingly before making contact.
China, the USA, Germany and Argentina lead Brazil’s overall source list, which covers all goods. Argentina’s presence points to regional supply by land and river, which is a competitor for some oils. Import and labelling conditions are set by the authorities and can change, so confirm them, including Portuguese-language labelling for retail packs.
Chapter 15 includes animal fats, and reporting differences between countries can reorder the last places of the table.
Shipment data under the oil headings names the receiver of each cargo. Agree Incoterm, currency and port, and open contact through this site’s free marketplace.
Twentieth of 96 markets at $2.0B in 2024, a 1.4% share of reported world imports.
For variety and specification: premium oils, specialty fats and ingredients not made locally.
It is 0.7% of $277.5B and ranks 19th among import chapters.
Review oil-heading shipment data to see consignees and weights.
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