Palm oil imports in Japan
Japan: Palm oil imports was 636,000 tonnes in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
636,000 tonnes
Change on year
down 0.3%
World rank
19th
of 190 countries
All-time high
779,000 tonnes
in 2019
All-time low
14,000 tonnes
in 1962
Years of data
62
1961–2022
Palm oil imports in Japan, 1961–2022
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
The most recent figure for palm oil imports in Japan is 636,000 tonnes, measured in 2022.
That represents a change of down 0.3% on the previous year and up 10.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, palm oil imports in Japan peaked at 779,000 tonnes in 2019 and was at its lowest, 14,000 tonnes, in 1962.
That places Japan 19th out of 190 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Palm oil imports in Japan, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 15,000 tonnes | — |
| 1962 | 14,000 tonnes | -6.7% |
| 1963 | 18,000 tonnes | +28.6% |
| 1964 | 20,000 tonnes | +11.1% |
| 1965 | 19,000 tonnes | -5.0% |
| 1966 | 24,000 tonnes | +26.3% |
| 1967 | 27,000 tonnes | +12.5% |
| 1968 | 34,000 tonnes | +25.9% |
| 1969 | 49,000 tonnes | +44.1% |
| 1970 | 50,000 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1971 | 50,000 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 63,000 tonnes | +26.0% |
| 1973 | 111,000 tonnes | +76.2% |
| 1974 | 122,000 tonnes | +9.9% |
| 1975 | 110,000 tonnes | -9.8% |
| 1976 | 160,000 tonnes | +45.5% |
| 1977 | 156,000 tonnes | -2.5% |
| 1978 | 155,000 tonnes | -0.6% |
| 1979 | 157,000 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1980 | 159,000 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1981 | 147,000 tonnes | -7.5% |
| 1982 | 154,000 tonnes | +4.8% |
| 1983 | 169,000 tonnes | +9.7% |
| 1984 | 173,000 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1985 | 182,000 tonnes | +5.2% |
| 1986 | 221,000 tonnes | +21.4% |
| 1987 | 247,000 tonnes | +11.8% |
| 1988 | 272,000 tonnes | +10.1% |
| 1989 | 300,000 tonnes | +10.3% |
| 1990 | 319,000 tonnes | +6.3% |
| 1991 | 371,000 tonnes | +16.3% |
| 1992 | 366,000 tonnes | -1.3% |
| 1993 | 405,000 tonnes | +10.7% |
| 1994 | 403,000 tonnes | -0.5% |
| 1995 | 431,000 tonnes | +6.9% |
| 1996 | 433,000 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1997 | 445,000 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1998 | 430,000 tonnes | -3.4% |
| 1999 | 365,000 tonnes | -15.1% |
| 2000 | 373,000 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 2001 | 393,000 tonnes | +5.4% |
| 2002 | 415,000 tonnes | +5.6% |
| 2003 | 428,000 tonnes | +3.1% |
| 2004 | 466,000 tonnes | +8.9% |
| 2005 | 479,000 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 2006 | 578,000 tonnes | +20.7% |
| 2007 | 532,000 tonnes | -8.0% |
| 2008 | 641,000 tonnes | +20.5% |
| 2009 | 645,000 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 2010 | 569,000 tonnes | -11.8% |
| 2011 | 588,000 tonnes | +3.3% |
| 2012 | 577,000 tonnes | -1.9% |
| 2013 | 591,000 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 2014 | 599,000 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 2015 | 620,000 tonnes | +3.5% |
| 2016 | 647,000 tonnes | +4.4% |
| 2017 | 708,000 tonnes | +9.4% |
| 2018 | 754,000 tonnes | +6.5% |
| 2019 | 779,000 tonnes | +3.3% |
| 2020 | 761,000 tonnes | -2.3% |
| 2021 | 638,000 tonnes | -16.2% |
| 2022 | 636,000 tonnes | -0.3% |
Japan compared with similar countries
- Japan's 636,000 tonnes is above the median for high income countries, which is 22,000 tonnes, 28.9× the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Japan's 636,000 tonnes is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 5,000 tonnes, 127.2× the median. (31 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Palm oil imports in Japan changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | +76.2% | 63,000 tonnes | 111,000 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 24,444 tonnes | 14,000 tonnes | 49,000 tonnes | 9 |
| 1970s | 113,400 tonnes | 50,000 tonnes | 160,000 tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 202,400 tonnes | 147,000 tonnes | 300,000 tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 396,800 tonnes | 319,000 tonnes | 445,000 tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 495,000 tonnes | 373,000 tonnes | 645,000 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 643,200 tonnes | 569,000 tonnes | 779,000 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 678,333 tonnes | 636,000 tonnes | 761,000 tonnes | 3 |
Countries ranked near Japan
- 16 Germany 698,000 tonnes compare
- 17 Saudi Arabia 669,000 tonnes compare
- 18 South Korea 658,000 tonnes compare
- 20 Myanmar 631,000 tonnes compare
- 21 Russia 541,000 tonnes compare
- 22 South Africa 510,000 tonnes compare
More energy & mining data for Japan
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, annual growth rate -0.7535 % change on previous year (2025)
- Coal consumption, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Coal consumption, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Coal production, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Coal production, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Fuel imports 19.6% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is palm oil imports in Japan?
- Palm oil imports in Japan was 636,000 tonnes in 2022, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest palm oil imports recorded in Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 779,000 tonnes in 2019.
- What is the lowest palm oil imports recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 14,000 tonnes in 1962.
- How does Japan rank for palm oil imports?
- Japan ranks 19th out of 190 countries with data for 2022.
- Is palm oil imports rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 10.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Japan data come from?
- The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Palm oil imports. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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