Edible oil · importers
Italy ranks fifth of 96 at $7.0B in the fats and oils chapter, a figure shaped in part by trade in olive oil that comes in, is blended and goes out again.
| Market | HS 15 imports |
|---|---|
| United States | $17.2B |
| India | $16.8B |
| China | $12.6B |
| Netherlands | $8.6B |
| 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.
The Netherlands is above at $8.6B and Spain below at $5.8B. Italy’s 4.8% share of reported world imports keeps a comfortable margin over the market behind it. The chapter is 1.1% of its $621.6B imports and ranks 18th among its import chapters, higher than in most large European economies.
Olive oil is a major product of the Mediterranean, and part of the trade in it consists of oil moving between producing countries, being blended or bottled, and then sold on. Italy is a well-known bottler and brand owner, so its recorded imports likely include oil purchased in bulk for that purpose. This is a general feature of the trade, not a measured split of the $7.0B.
The chapter also holds other vegetable oils used in food manufacturing, so buyers vary widely. A bottler cares about origin claims and label rules, a manufacturer about technical specification, and a trader about parcel size and timing, so ask early which of them you are talking to and adapt the first offer accordingly.
Rules on grades, origin labelling and blending claims for oils are detailed and set by the authorities, and they can change. Confirm the current requirements with them and with the importer before offering. Germany, China, France and the Netherlands lead Italy’s overall source list, which covers all goods.
The $7.0B covers all of HS chapter 15, animal and vegetable fats and oils, so edible oils are a part. National reporting and re-exports can shift a market in the table.
Records of individual oil shipments name the receiver and show cargo weight. Agree Incoterm, currency, payment terms and port with the buyer, and approach shortlisted companies through this site’s free marketplace.
Fifth of 96 markets at $7.0B in 2024, a 4.8% share of reported world imports.
Bulk oil bought for blending and bottling may be sold on again, so imports exceed local use.
No. Olive oil is one of many products in a chapter that spans animal and vegetable fats.
Look at oil-heading shipment data and compare consignees by cargo weight.
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