Edible oil · importers
Spain ranks sixth of 96 at $5.8B in the fats and oils chapter, and as a leading olive-oil country its imports have unusual causes.
| 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.
Italy is above at $7.0B and Germany below at $5.4B. Spain’s 4.0% share of reported world imports leaves it a clear step ahead of the next market. The chapter is 1.3% of its $451.3B imports and ranks 15th among its import chapters, a notable position for a country that also produces large quantities itself.
A producing country can still import oils: to top up supplies in a poor harvest year, to blend with domestic oil, to feed refineries and packers serving export markets, or to buy other vegetable oils such as sunflower and palm that it does not produce in volume. The figure therefore tells you about processing and trade as much as household demand.
Ask the importer whether the oil is destined for its own bottling line, for food manufacturers or for resale. A buyer topping up after a short harvest will want speed and clear quality documents, while a blender with a standing programme will care more about price stability over a season, so the same oil may need a different pitch.
Oil grading, labelling and origin rules are set by the authorities and can change, so confirm the current requirements with them and the importer. Germany, China, France and Italy lead Spain’s overall source list, which covers all goods and does not show oil origins.
The $5.8B covers the whole of HS chapter 15, animal and vegetable fats and oils, so edible oils are a part. Re-exports and reporting differences can shift the ranking.
Oil-heading shipment records list consignees, weights and values. Fix Incoterm, currency, payment terms and port with the buyer and contact your shortlist via this site’s free marketplace.
Sixth of 96 markets at $5.8B in 2024, a 4.0% share of reported world imports.
To top up supply, blend, feed refineries and packers for export, and buy oils it does not produce in volume.
It is 1.3% of $451.3B and ranks 15th among its import chapters.
Open oil-heading shipment data and sort by consignee and cargo weight.
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