Edible oil · importers
China ranks third of 96 at $12.6B in the fats and oils chapter, a top-tier buyer with a large refining and food-manufacturing base.
| Market | HS 15 imports |
|---|---|
| United States | $17.2B |
| India | $16.8B |
| Netherlands | $8.6B |
| Italy | $7.0B |
| Spain | $5.8B |
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.
India is above at $16.8B and the Netherlands below at $8.6B. China’s 8.7% share of reported world imports keeps it inside the leading trio. The chapter is 0.5% of its $2.59T imports and ranks 25th among its import chapters, so oils are significant in absolute terms but modest against machinery at $583.9B and fuels at $504.0B.
Chinese imports of fats and oils supply refiners, food manufacturers, catering and industrial users. A refinery importing crude oil in bulk has a different profile from a food company buying finished, packed oil. Ask which kind of buyer you are dealing with and what quality specifications apply, such as free fatty acid, moisture and impurities for crude oils.
Bulk cargoes go into port tank farms; smaller lots travel in flexitanks or drums, and the format shapes both price and buyer type.
Imports of food products into China commonly involve registration of foreign suppliers, inspection and labelling requirements in Chinese. Details are set by the authorities and can change, so confirm the current position with them and your buyer. The Republic of Korea, the USA, Japan and Australia lead the overall source list, which covers industrial trade and does not indicate where oils originate.
The $12.6B covers the whole of HS chapter 15, which includes animal fats as well as vegetable oils. Rankings are reporter-declared and re-exports can distort them.
Agree Incoterm, currency, payment terms and discharge port in writing. Oil-heading shipment records name the consignees, and this site’s free marketplace helps you approach refiners and food companies.
Third of 96 markets at $12.6B in 2024, an 8.7% share of reported world imports.
No. The chapter covers animal and vegetable fats and oils, including some not for food use.
Refiners buy crude in bulk against technical specifications, while food companies buy finished oil in packed or tank formats.
Search oil-heading shipment records and read consignee names and cargo weights.
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