Demand for vegetable oils in China will decline in MY 2025/26

According to a report from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), total vegetable oil demand for food purposes in China is projected to decline by 4.1% in 2025/26 to 34.7 million tons, 1.9% below the 2024/25 season estimate of 35.36 million tons. The USDA’s September 26 report, “China: Oilseeds and Commodity Data Update,” stated that the main factors driving the projected decline in vegetable oil consumption were a decline in restaurant visits due to economic concerns, increased awareness of the importance of a healthy lifestyle, and a shrinking and aging population. According to the National Bureau of Statistics of China, the country’s GDP growth rate in the first half of 2025 was 5.3%. Revenue from the catering industry reached 2.75 trillion yuan (US$387 billion) in the first half of 2025, an increase of 4.3% year-on-year. However, the monthly growth rate slowed to 0.9% in June. Tighter catering regulations are expected to impact the hotel, restaurant, and ...