China vs United States: Palm oil imports
China
5.64 million tonnes
in 2023
United States
1.85 million tonnes
in 2023
China rank
2nd
United States rank
4th
Palm oil imports over time
- China
- United States
How they compare
China currently reports 5.64 million tonnes against 1.85 million tonnes in United States, a difference of 3.79 million tonnes.
That makes China's figure about 3.0 times United States's.
The two have swapped places 1 time across 63 shared years of data; in 1961 it was United States ahead.
China ranks 2nd and United States ranks 4th of 190 countries.
Across the 7 decades both report, China averaged higher in 5 and United States in 2.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | China | United States | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 111.11 tonnes | 26,778 tonnes | 26,667 tonnes | United States |
| 1970s | 10,700 tonnes | 209,300 tonnes | 198,600 tonnes | United States |
| 1980s | 178,000 tonnes | 166,900 tonnes | 11,100 tonnes | China |
| 1990s | 1.08 million tonnes | 152,500 tonnes | 930,600 tonnes | China |
| 2000s | 4.02 million tonnes | 518,000 tonnes | 3.50 million tonnes | China |
| 2010s | 5.76 million tonnes | 1.26 million tonnes | 4.50 million tonnes | China |
| 2020s | 5.85 million tonnes | 1.67 million tonnes | 4.18 million tonnes | China |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher palm oil imports, China or United States?
- China, at 5.64 million tonnes against 1.85 million tonnes in United States as of 2023.
- What is the difference in palm oil imports between China and United States?
- 3.79 million tonnes, with China ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for China and United States?
- 63 years are reported by both, from 1961 to 2023.
- How do China and United States rank globally for palm oil imports?
- China ranks 2nd and United States ranks 4th of 190 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – processed by Our World in Data, published as Palm oil imports. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.