China halved sunflower oil imports in 2025, but is increasing supplies from Kazakhstan, reducing imports from Ukraine
In 2025, demand for sunflower oil in China decreased sharply due to a significant increase in its prices, so imports were almost halved, said Fang Gang, CEO of the China Association of Oil Producers (Zhejiang Provincial Oils & Fats Co., Ltd) at the international conference "Chinese Grains & Oils Congress 2026".
Since mid-2024, forecasts of reduced sunflower harvests in Ukraine and the Russian Federation due to drought have led to increases in both global sunflower oil prices and domestic prices in China. However, prices for packaged edible oil in the country have remained stable, forcing importers to prefer cheaper soybean and palm oils.
If in 2023 China imported 1.5 million tons of sunflower oil, in 2024 – 1.09 million tons, then in 2025 – only 500 thousand tons.
The share of Ukrainian oil in Chinese imports decreased from 53% in 2022 to 10-15% in 2025 due to complex logistics and reorientation of exports to the European market. At the same time, the share of Kazakh oil increased from 10% in 2024 to 28% in 2025 due to logistical advantages and better price-quality ratio in conditions of shortage.
Kazakhstan continues to increase sunflower production and processing, which allows it to increase its exports of sunflower oil.
Oil prices in Kazakhstan are $1,200-1,250/t on the basis of the Kazakhstan-China border and $1,250-1,270/t CIF with delivery to ports, while prices for Ukrainian oil reach $1,280-1,300/t FOB - Black Sea ports.
Due to the increase in sunflower sowing areas and production, the Russian Federation is increasing oil supplies to India and remains the largest supplier to China, although the share of Russian oil in the Chinese market has decreased from 65% in 2024 to 50-55% in 2025.
According to expert forecasts, in 2026, China will increase imports of sunflower oil to replenish stocks, which at the beginning of March 2026 had decreased to a historical minimum of 70 thousand tons.
