Palm nuts and kernels market in China

Earlier Report Observations

From 2018 to 2023, China's production of palm nuts and kernels remained stable at around 667–670 thousand tons annually, with total market volume showing minimal fluctuation. This consistency occurred despite the country's reliance on imported palm oil, as domestic output of raw nuts and kernels met most of the underlying demand.

The period saw regulatory and global influences on the broader palm sector. A revision of the national standard GB/T 18009 for palm kernel oil, initially delayed in 2018, was restarted in 2024 to align with international food safety requirements. From 2022 onward, global palm oil production faced pressures including extreme weather, aging palm trees, and COVID-19-related labor shortages in major producing countries like Malaysia and Indonesia.

By 2024, Indonesia's planned B40 biodiesel policy highlighted a significant downstream shift that could affect global palm oil trade flows. Meanwhile, China's steady production of palm nuts and kernels contrasted with its growing import demand for processed palm oil, keeping the upstream segment stable amid evolving international supply conditions.

Production palm nuts and kernels in China

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

From 2017 to 2020, China ranked as the world's 19th largest producer of palm nuts and kernels.

Top producers of palm nuts and kernels, 2017-2020

World map of production of palm nuts and kernels, 2017-2020

China's production of palm nuts and kernels grew for the third year in a row. In 2020, the country produced 669.5 thousand tonnes, which remained largely stable compared to the previous year.

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

Exports palm nuts and kernels from China

Exports in kind, t

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

Between 2017 and 2020, Japan was the sole export market for palm nuts and kernels from China, accounting for 100.0% of total shipments in volume terms.

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

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

Exports in value, K $ US

Annual dynamics of product's exports from China in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

From 2017 to 2020, China's exports of palm nuts and kernels in value terms were entirely concentrated on Japan, which represented 100.0% of total flows.

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

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

Imports palm nuts and kernels to China

Imports in kind, t

Import volumes showed significant fluctuations during this period. In 2019, imports hit their lowest point, then peaked in 2018, with a 3.6-fold difference between these years. In 2020, China imported about 675 tonnes, a decrease of 7.1% year-on-year. The highest volume was recorded in 2018 at 2 399 tonnes. The sharpest decline occurred in 2019, falling by 69.7%, while the largest increase was in 2018, rising by 223.9%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Indonesia dominated China's imports of palm nuts and kernels in volume, capturing 87.1% of total flows, with the remainder spread across a range of smaller markets.

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

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

Imports in value, K $ US

China's imports of palm nuts and kernels in value terms fell for the second consecutive year. In 2020, imports totaled {value_last_year} thousand US dollars, a sharp drop of 35.5% compared to 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, imports declined by 69.6%, with a compound annual growth rate of -32.8%. The peak value was in 2018 at 681.1 thousand US dollars. The most significant decrease was in 2019, down 67.1%, while the largest increase occurred in 2018, up 43.1%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to China in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Between 2017 and 2020, Indonesia and the United States were the key players in China's imports of palm nuts and kernels in value terms, together accounting for 82.7% of total flows, with the rest distributed among other destinations.

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

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