Blog Article: Sharp Contrast! May 2026 UCO Trade – Plunging Imports & Surging China Used Cooking Oil Exports

Customs data for May 2026 reveals a dramatic split in China’s used cooking oil (UCO, industrial-grade mixed oil) foreign trade market. Domestic export volume jumped sharply on strong overseas biodiesel demand, while import shipments dropped month-on-month to a very low level. This article sorts out full official customs import & export statistics, breaks down major trade partners, core trading regions and trade modes, and forecasts the medium-term supply and export trend of UCO raw materials for biodiesel and SAF production.

Full May 2026 Industrial-Grade Mixed Oil Import & Export Customs Data

The General Administration of Customs released complete monthly trade figures for industrial-grade mixed oil in May 2026, showing obvious divergence between export and import performance.

Export Data

Total export volume hit 310,300 tonnes, rising 43.51% month-on-month. The average export price stood at $1,137.24 per tonne, slipping slightly by 0.37% month-on-month. The United States ranked as China’s largest UCO export destination, with shipments reaching 74,500 tonnes at an average price of $1,069.58 per tonne.

Import Data

Total import volume only reached 979.51 tonnes, down 32.50% compared with April. The average import price was $2,079.80 per tonne, falling 9.93% month-on-month. Japan was the top import source country, supplying 528.78 tonnes at an average price of $1,107.90 per tonne.

In-depth Breakdown of UCO Import Market

Major Import Source Countries & Regions

The top three import suppliers of used cooking oil in May 2026 were Japan, China Hong Kong and the United States. Japan alone contributed 528.78 tonnes, accounting for 53.98% of the country’s total UCO import volume, dominating China’s inbound supply.

Main Trade Modes

Import trade forms cover processing with imported materials, general trade, logistics goods inside special customs supervision zones and other categories. Among them, processing with imported materials takes the leading share of import transactions.

Core Domestic Import Provinces & Cities

Jiangsu, Guangdong and Shanghai are the three key regions for UCO imports. Their combined import volume reached 843.08 tonnes, occupying 86.07% of national total imports, concentrating almost all inbound UCO supplies.

Detailed Analysis of China’s UCO Export Market

Main Export Destination Countries

In May 2026, China’s top three overseas buyers of industrial-grade mixed oil were the United States, the Netherlands and Italy. Exports to the US took up 24.01% of total outbound shipments at 74,500 tonnes, maintaining the No.1 export market position.

Dominant Export Trade Mode

Multiple trade channels support UCO exports, including general trade, processing with imported materials, bonded zone logistics goods, goods entering and exiting bonded supervision areas, and processing with supplied materials. General trade contributes 61.69% of total export volume, becoming the mainstream export channel.

Major Export Registration Regions

Based on exporter registration locations, Guangdong, Shanghai and Jiangsu ranked the top three export provinces and cities. Their aggregate export volume reached around 202,900 tonnes, accounting for 65.39% of the whole country’s UCO exports, forming the core export cluster of waste cooking oil raw materials for biodiesel.

Market Outlook for China Used Cooking Oil

Long-term trade data shows China’s UCO industry has formed a fixed operation pattern of high exports and low imports. Domestic recycled waste cooking oil supply mostly flows to overseas buyers, while import volume remains persistently low, and this trend is expected to continue in the short run.

Supported by steady global biodiesel demand, domestic UCO spot prices stay firm, and import volumes will keep shrinking. Strong overseas purchasing intention will continuously underpin China’s UCO export growth.

However, potential changes exist in the medium term. Domestic downstream biodiesel and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) manufacturers have massive raw material demand. If local factories raise operating rates and increase raw material procurement, a large amount of existing UCO supply will shift from export orders to domestic processing, which will slow down the month-on-month growth rate of national UCO exports gradually.

Conclusion

May 2026 customs data clearly shows the huge gap between China’s UCO import and export performance. Overseas biodiesel demand drives explosive export growth, while limited inbound supply keeps import volume at a low level. Market participants need to track two key variables in the future: overseas demand sustainability and the operating rate of domestic biodiesel & SAF plants, which will jointly decide the supply allocation and price trend of industrial-grade mixed oil.