China increases vegetable oil exports – expert
China’s vegetable oil exports surged in 2025 after years of steady volumes near 100,000 tons, driven by lower domestic consumption, cheaper soybean oil and stronger competitiveness in Asian markets. Despite rising exports and record oilseed harvests, China still relies heavily on imports, with oilseed purchases exceeding 100 million tons annually.
Vegetable oil exports from China had remained at around 100.000 tons for many years; however, in 2025 a significant increase in this indicator was recorded. The main reasons are lower domestic consumption of vegetable oils, low soybean oil prices, and stronger export advantages of Chinese products in Asian markets. This was reported by Zhang Liwei, senior economist at the National Food and Strategic Reserves Data Center of China, at the international conference “Chinese Grains & Oils Congress 2026” in Shanghai on March 5.
He specified that China accounts for about 25% of the total global oilseed processing volume – in the 2025/26 MY this figure will exceed 146 mln tons. Overall, Chinese companies’ oilseed processing capacity amounts to more than 200 mln tons per year, with over 70% accounted for by soybean processing.
The speaker noted that state support measures have led to a significant increase in oilseed production in China – the country has recorded record harvests for the fourth consecutive year.
Nevertheless, China still heavily depends on imports of finished oils and oilseed raw materials. Each year, the country imports more than 100 mln tons of oilseeds, about 10 mln tons of edible and industrial vegetable oils, and more than 5 mln tons of protein feed.
“In the coming years, the volume of oilseed and edible oil imports in China will remain at a high level, while due to diversification an increase in imports of non-traditional, niche oilseed crops and vegetable oils is expected,” Zhang Liwei forecasts.
He also noted the strengthening role of Kazakhstan in China’s oilseed market, and this concerns not only the increase in supplies of Kazakh oilseed raw materials and oil and fat products.
“In recent years, oilseed production in Kazakhstan has increased significantly, and many Chinese companies are investing in the construction of plants. In the future, imports of oils and oilseeds from Kazakhstan to China will continue to grow,” the expert believes.
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Source : APK Inform
