Global shipments of palm oil are showing a confident recovery in 2025. According to Oil World, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand exported a combined 36.4 million tonnes in the first ten months of the year — 1.4 million tonnes more than in the same period of 2024, when exports fell to an eight-year low. The market regained momentum between May and August after a sluggish start to the year.
Indonesia, the world’s largest producer, saw its October exports ease to 2.26 million tonnes from 2.55 million tonnes a year earlier. However, overall exports for January–October rose to 22.47 million tonnes, supported by a recovery in domestic production. Malaysia’s October shipments remained close to last year’s level at 1.69 million tonnes, bringing year-to-date exports to 12.73 million tonnes.
Southeast Asian suppliers significantly increased deliveries to China: Chinese imports rose to 577,000 tonnes in October from 338,000 tonnes a month earlier, reaching 4.08 million tonnes over January–October. India, another major buyer, sharply reduced purchases — to 569,000 tonnes in October and to 6.18 million tonnes in the first ten months of the year.
Analysts note that the overall market recovery is driven by stabilising production and a gradual rebound in global demand. Yet demand remains uneven: strong buying interest from China is helping offset weaker imports from India, resulting in a mixed outlook for exporters.
