Oil seeds and oleaginous fruits market in Eastern Asia

Earlier Report Observations

Between 2018 and 2020, the market for oil seeds and oleaginous fruits in Eastern Asia experienced notable shifts. Government policies strengthening support for oil crop cultivation and processing, alongside increased industry investment and competition, helped raise the market size to 1 763 thousand tons in 2019. However, in 2020, disruptions to global supply chains caused by the COVID-19 pandemic temporarily reduced the market volume to 1 717 thousand tons, despite domestic initiatives to launch oilseed capacity expansion projects.

From 2021 onward, explicit national policies aimed at enlarging oil crop planting areas and implementing oilseed capacity enhancement projects became key drivers. These measures pushed production to 1 774 thousand tons and lifted the market size to a peak of 1 792 thousand tons in 2021. In the following years, continued policy focus on capacity building and agricultural diversification maintained production at a stable level of around 1 773‑1 774 thousand tons, while the market size gradually moderated to 1 752 thousand tons by 2023.

Production oil seeds and oleaginous fruits in Eastern Asia

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of oil seeds and oleaginous fruits, 2017-2020

World map of production of oil seeds and oleaginous fruits, 2017-2020

Eastern Asia's production of oil seeds and oleaginous fruits declined after two years of growth. In 2019, output reached its peak at 1 752 K t, marking a 0.9% increase from the previous year. By 2020, production remained broadly stable at 1 746 K t, showing little change compared to 2019.

Annual dynamics of production in Eastern Asia in kind, 2017-2020, K t

In value, 2017-2020, M $ US

In 2020, the value of oil seeds and oleaginous fruits production in Eastern Asia was 4 047 M $ US, representing a modest 4.4% decrease from 2019. The lowest value during the 2017-2020 period was recorded in 2018 at 3 838 M $ US, which marked a significant 29.4% decline. However, production rebounded in 2019 with a 10.3% increase. Overall, from 2017 to 2020, production value fell by 25.6%, translating to an annualized decline of 9.4%.

Annual dynamics of production in Eastern Asia in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Exports oil seeds and oleaginous fruits from Eastern Asia

Exports in kind, t

In 2020, Eastern Asia exported 47 659 t of oil seeds and oleaginous fruits, reflecting a 1.4% year-over-year increase. The highest export volume during the 2017-2020 period was recorded in 2018 at 51 763 t, which represented a substantial 42.6% jump from the previous year. Exports then declined by 9.2% in 2019. Over the entire four-year span, exports grew by 31.3%, with an annualized growth rate of 9.5%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Eastern Asia in kind, 2017-2020, t

Between 2017 and 2020, Eastern Asia's exports of oil seeds and oleaginous fruits in kind were highly dispersed across destinations. The top three markets—Asia, not elsewhere specified (12.2% of exports), Spain (10.7%), and the Netherlands (6.7%)—collectively accounted for only 29.7% of total flows. The remaining 70.3% was distributed among a wide range of other countries.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Eastern Asia in kind, 2017-2020

Exports in value, M $ US

Eastern Asia's exports of oil seeds and oleaginous fruits in value terms declined for the second consecutive year. In 2020, exports reached 110.5 M $ US, marking a slight 2.7% decrease from 2019. The peak value was recorded in 2018 at 114.4 M $ US, which saw a marginal 0.2% increase. From 2017 to 2020, overall exports decreased by 3.2%, equating to an annualized decline of 1.1%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Eastern Asia in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

During the 2017-2020 period, Eastern Asia's exports of oil seeds and oleaginous fruits in value terms were relatively evenly spread. The top three destinations—Asia, not elsewhere specified (20.8% of exports), the Netherlands (6.9%), and Pakistan (4.9%)—jointly accounted for only 32.6% of total flows, indicating a diversified export structure.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Eastern Asia in value, 2017-2020

Imports oil seeds and oleaginous fruits to Eastern Asia

Imports in kind, t

Imports of oil seeds and oleaginous fruits into Eastern Asia showed significant volatility from 2017 to 2020. The lowest volume was recorded in 2017, while imports peaked in 2019 at 57 989 t, representing a 135.8% surge from 2018. In 2020, imports dropped sharply to 18 764 t, marking a 67.6% decline from the previous year. Overall, imports varied by a factor of 3.6 between the high in 2019 and the low in 2017.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Eastern Asia in kind, 2017-2020, t

Between 2017 and 2020, Eastern Asia imported oil seeds and oleaginous fruits from many countries. Even the largest suppliers—Italy, the United States, and France—together represented only 25.6% of total imports in kind, highlighting a highly diversified import market.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Eastern Asia in kind, 2017-2020

Imports in value, M $ US

Eastern Asia's imports of oil seeds and oleaginous fruits in value terms increased for the second consecutive year. In 2020, imports reached 83.3 M $ US, reflecting a significant 14.4% rise from 2019. The lowest value during the period was recorded in 2018 at 68.2 M $ US, which marked a 9.4% decline. From 2017 to 2020, overall imports grew by 10.6%, with an annualized growth rate of 3.4%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Eastern Asia in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

In the 2017-2020 period, the United States (11.4% of imports in value terms), Canada (5.5%), and Italy (4.9%) were the largest suppliers of oil seeds and oleaginous fruits to Eastern Asia. However, their combined contribution was limited to 21.8% of total imports, underscoring a diversified country structure for imports in value terms.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Eastern Asia in value, 2017-2020