The USDA forecasts a decrease in demand for vegetable oils in China in 2025/26 MY.

USDA experts have reduced the forecast for demand for vegetable oils in China in the 2025/26 MY by 4.1% to 34.7 million tons, which will be 1.9% less than the forecast for the 2024/25 MY (35.36 million tons). The report dated September 26, "China: Update on Oilseeds and Products," states that the main reasons for the decrease in consumption forecast were a reduction in restaurant visits due to economic problems, an aging population, and the spread of a healthy lifestyle. According to the National Bureau of Statistics of China, in the first half of 2025, the country's GDP was 5.3%, and revenues from the catering industry reached 2.75 trillion yuan or $387 billion (a 4.3% increase year-on-year). However, in June, the monthly growth rate slowed to 0.9%. The increase in demand in the catering sector is expected to affect hotels, restaurants, and institutions, reducing the consumption of vegetable oils. According to the China Population Report, the country's population has been ...