Market research

Sunflower-seed oilcake market in China

Release date: Mar 29, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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Earlier Report Observations

The sunflower-seed oilcake market in China experienced a sharp rise from 734 thousand tons in 2018 to 2 544 thousand tons in 2020. This initial expansion was facilitated by the continued release of state rapeseed oil reserves, which boosted oilseed availability, and significant investments in dedicated railway lines for grains and oilseeds by the National Food and Strategic Reserves Administration. These infrastructure improvements lowered logistics costs and enhanced the circulation of oilcake and other by-products, supporting market growth.

Market volume continued to increase steadily, reaching 3 395 thousand tons in 2023. This sustained growth was underpinned by high import volumes, which remained above 2 300 thousand tons annually from 2021 onward, indicating strong domestic demand for sunflower-seed oilcake.

In 2024, imports amounted to 2 528 thousand tons while exports were negligible. The market environment during this year was influenced by shifts in international trade policy, including adjustments to import permits for oilseeds like Australian rapeseed, and growing consumer preference for healthy and functional foods, which raised demand for oilseed by-products such as sunflower seed cake.

Table of content

1. Disclaimer
2. Terms of use of the report
3. Product codes in the statistical classifications used in the report
4. Key Market Indicators and Trends
1. 4.1. Key Market Indicators
  1. 4.1.1. In kind
    1. 4.1.1.1. Production, 2018-2023
    2. 4.1.1.2. Imports, 2018-2024
    3. 4.1.1.3. Exports, 2018-2024
    4. 4.1.1.4. Market size, 2018-2023
2. 4.2. Market Trends and Factors
5. Production
1. 5.1. Production in China
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in China in kind, 2018-2023, K t
  2. 5.1.2. Annual dynamics of production in China in value, 2018-2023, $ US
2. 5.2. Global production by Country, 2018-2023
  1. 5.2.1. Annual dynamics of production by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023, K t
  2. 5.2.2. Dynamics of production structure by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023
  3. 5.2.3. Annual dynamics of production by country in kind, 2018-2023, K t
  4. 5.2.4. Structure of production by countries in kind, 2018-2023
  5. 5.2.5. Dynamics of peoduction structure by countries in kind, 2018-2023
6. Exports
1. 6.1. Exports (Direct Data)
  1. 6.1.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 6.1.2. Exports in kind, K t
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from China in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from China by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 6.1.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.1.3. Exports in value, M $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from China in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from China by countries, 2018-2024, M $ US
    3. 6.1.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.1.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 6.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from China, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from China by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
2. 6.2. Exports (Mirror Data)
  1. 6.2.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 6.2.2. Exports in kind, K t
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from China in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from China by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 6.2.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.2.3. Exports in value, M $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from China in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from China by countries, 2018-2024, M $ US
    3. 6.2.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.2.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 6.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from China, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from China by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
7. Imports
1. 7.1. Imports (Direct Data)
  1. 7.1.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 7.1.2. Imports in kind, K t
    1. 7.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to China in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to China by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 7.1.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.1.3. Imports in value, M $ US
    1. 7.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to China in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to China by countries, 2018-2024, M $ US
    3. 7.1.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.1.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 7.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to China, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to China by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
2. 7.2. Imports (Mirror Data)
  1. 7.2.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 7.2.2. Imports in kind, K t
    1. 7.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to China in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to China by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 7.2.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.2.3. Imports in value, M $ US
    1. 7.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to China in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to China by countries, 2018-2024, M $ US
    3. 7.2.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.2.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 7.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to China, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to China by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
8. Trade balance
1. 8.1. Trade balance (Direct Data)
  1. 8.1.1. In kind, K t
  2. 8.1.2. In value, M $ US
2. 8.2. Trade balance (Mirror Data)
  1. 8.2.1. In kind, K t
  2. 8.2.2. In value, M $ US
9. Top buying and selling countries, 2018-2024
1. 9.1. Direct Data
  1. 9.1.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.1.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers
2. 9.2. Mirror Data
  1. 9.2.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.2.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers

Production sunflower-seed oilcake in China

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

From 2017 to 2020, China ranked 10th globally in sunflower-seed oilcake production.

Top producers of sunflower-seed oilcake, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of sunflower-seed oilcake, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

China's sunflower-seed oilcake production grew for the second year in a row. In 2020, output reached 368.7 K t, up 1.5% from the previous year. The lowest production level was recorded in 2018 at 360.0 K t, which also saw the largest decline of 1.8%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(1.8%)	0.9%	1.5%	0.2%

Source: SHEV.io

In value, 2017-2020, M $ US

In 2020, the value of sunflower-seed oilcake output in China was 142.3 M $ US, showing a moderate 4.2% year-on-year contraction. The lowest value occurred in 2018 at 139.1 M $ US, while the highest was in 2019 at 148.5 M $ US, with the largest increase of 6.8% that year.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(2.8%)	6.8%	(4.2%)	(0.2%)

Source: SHEV.io

Exports sunflower-seed oilcake from China

Exports in kind, K t

China's sunflower-seed oilcake exports rebounded after a two-year decline. In 2020, exports totaled 14 K t, a 16.4% increase from the previous year. However, from 2017 to 2020, exports fell by 57.9%, averaging an annual decline of 25.0%. The lowest export volume was in 2019 at 12 K t, with the sharpest drop of 46.3% occurring in 2018.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(46.3%)	(32.5%)	16.4%	(25.0%)

Source: SHEV.io

Between 2017 and 2020, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands were the leading markets for China's sunflower-seed oilcake exports in volume terms, together accounting for 92.1% of total flows, while other destinations made up the remainder.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, M $ US

Sunflower-seed oilcake exports from China increased after a two-year fall. In 2020, exports were valued at 5.3 M $ US, rising 9.8% compared to the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, exports decreased by 58.3%, with an average annual decline of 25.3%. The lowest value was recorded in 2019 at 4.8 M $ US, and the largest decline of 46.9% happened in 2018.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(46.9%)	(28.6%)	9.8%	(25.3%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands dominated China's sunflower-seed oilcake exports in value terms, jointly representing 91.4% of total flows, with other countries accounting for the rest.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports sunflower-seed oilcake to China

Imports in kind, K t

China's sunflower-seed oilcake imports grew for the third consecutive year. In 2020, import volume reached 2 189 K t, a sharp 51.4% increase from 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, imports surged by 85 386%, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 849.1%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	15 193.3%	269.2%	51.4%	849.1%

Source: SHEV.io

During 2017-2020, Ukraine was the primary source for China's sunflower-seed oilcake imports in volume terms, accounting for 97.7% of total flows.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, M $ US

Foreign sunflower-seed oilcake supplies to China increased for the third year in a row. In 2020, imports were valued at approximately 587.0 M $ US, up 45.8% from the previous year. From 2017 to 2020, imports soared by 209 722.2%, with a CAGR of 1 180.2%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	38 838.5%	269.6%	45.8%	1 180.2%

Source: SHEV.io

Over the 2017-2020 period, Ukraine accounted for nearly all of China's sunflower-seed oilcake imports in value terms, with a share of 98.1% of total flows.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io