Castor oil seeds production in China
In 2024 China produced 20,000 t of castor oil seeds, the 4th largest in the world (1.10% of the world total). Over ten years it fell by 50%. The record was 330,000 t in 1987. Area harvested: 10,000 ha, yield 2.0 t/ha.
The 2024 figure is from an external organisation.
- Production, 2024
- 20,000 t
- World rank
- 4 of 31
- 10-year change
- −50%
- Record
- 330,000 t
- 1987
Castor oil seeds in China, 1961–2024 (tonnes)
China compared with the world, 2024
- Share of world total
- 1.1%
- 1.9% in 2014
- Yield, t/ha
- 2.0
- world 1.5 (+34%)
- kg per person
- 0.01
- world 0.22
- 10-year change
- −50%
- world −13%
Position in the world ranking
| # | Country | Tonnes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Mozambique | 73,598 | 4.1% |
| 3 | Brazil | 39,844 | 2.2% |
| 4 | China | 20,000 | 1.1% |
| 5 | Kenya | 15,000 | 0.83% |
| 6 | Myanmar | 12,594 | 0.69% |
Map of world production of castor oil seeds
Share of the world total; China is outlined. Small island states are not drawn at this scale.
By year
| Year | Tonnes | Change | Area harvested, ha | Yield, t/ha |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 20,000 | 0.0% | 10,000 | 2.00 |
| 2023 | 20,000 | +43% | 10,000 | 2.00 |
| 2022 | 14,000 | 0.0% | 8,000 | 1.75 |
| 2021 | 14,000 | −18% | 8,000 | 1.75 |
| 2020 | 17,000 | −53% | 9,000 | 1.89 |
| 2019 | 36,000 | +33% | 21,000 | 1.71 |
| 2018 | 27,000 | −16% | 16,000 | 1.69 |
| 2017 | 32,000 | −14% | 19,000 | 1.68 |
| 2016 | 37,000 | −7.5% | 22,000 | 1.68 |
| 2015 | 40,000 | 0.0% | 26,000 | 1.54 |
| 2014 | 40,000 | −20% | 46,000 | 0.87 |
| 2013 | 50,000 | −55% | 57,000 | 0.88 |
| 2012 | 110,000 | −39% | 120,000 | 0.92 |
| 2011 | 180,000 | +20% | 190,000 | 0.95 |
| 2010 | 150,000 | −12% | 190,000 | 0.79 |
| 2009 | 170,000 | −11% | 200,000 | 0.85 |
| 2008 | 190,000 | +12% | 220,000 | 0.86 |
| 2007 | 170,000 | −11% | 210,000 | 0.81 |
| 2006 | 190,000 | −14% | 230,000 | 0.83 |
| 2005 | 220,000 | −12% | 240,000 | 0.92 |
| 2004 | 250,000 | −3.1% | 260,000 | 0.96 |
| 2003 | 258,000 | −2.6% | 267,000 | 0.97 |
| 2002 | 265,000 | +1.9% | 270,000 | 0.98 |
| 2001 | 260,000 | −13% | 270,000 | 0.96 |
| 2000 | 300,000 | +20% | 290,000 | 1.03 |
| 1999 | 250,000 | +8.7% | 270,000 | 0.93 |
| 1998 | 230,000 | +28% | 209,000 | 1.10 |
| 1997 | 180,000 | −18% | 220,000 | 0.82 |
| 1996 | 220,000 | +29% | 200,000 | 1.10 |
| 1995 | 170,000 | −26% | 190,000 | 0.89 |
| 1994 | 230,000 | −18% | 247,000 | 0.93 |
| 1993 | 280,000 | −3.4% | 270,000 | 1.04 |
| 1992 | 290,000 | −12% | 240,000 | 1.21 |
| 1991 | 330,000 | +6.5% | 280,000 | 1.18 |
| 1990 | 310,000 | +15% | 275,000 | 1.13 |
| 1989 | 270,000 | +3.8% | 270,000 | 1.00 |
| 1988 | 260,000 | −21% | 270,000 | 0.96 |
| 1987 | 330,000 | +40% | 267,000 | 1.24 |
| 1986 | 235,000 | −16% | 255,000 | 0.92 |
| 1985 | 280,000 | +69% | 233,000 | 1.20 |
| 1984 | 166,000 | −7.3% | 207,000 | 0.80 |
| 1983 | 179,000 | +15% | 215,000 | 0.83 |
| 1982 | 156,000 | +14% | 200,000 | 0.78 |
| 1981 | 137,000 | +21% | 200,000 | 0.69 |
| 1980 | 113,000 | −1.7% | 200,000 | 0.57 |
| 1979 | 115,000 | +17% | 190,000 | 0.61 |
| 1978 | 98,000 | +24% | 190,000 | 0.52 |
| 1977 | 79,000 | +16% | 170,000 | 0.46 |
| 1976 | 68,000 | +1.5% | 165,000 | 0.41 |
| 1975 | 67,000 | −5.6% | 170,000 | 0.39 |
| 1974 | 71,000 | +7.6% | 170,000 | 0.42 |
| 1973 | 66,000 | −8.3% | 170,000 | 0.39 |
| 1972 | 72,000 | −4.0% | 175,000 | 0.41 |
| 1971 | 75,000 | −26% | 180,000 | 0.42 |
| 1970 | 102,000 | +20% | 180,000 | 0.57 |
| 1969 | 85,000 | −23% | 180,000 | 0.47 |
| 1968 | 110,000 | −21% | 200,000 | 0.55 |
| 1967 | 140,000 | +7.7% | 220,000 | 0.64 |
| 1966 | 130,000 | +63% | 220,000 | 0.59 |
| 1965 | 80,000 | +78% | 180,000 | 0.44 |
| 1964 | 45,000 | +29% | 130,000 | 0.35 |
| 1963 | 35,000 | 0.0% | 110,000 | 0.32 |
| 1962 | 35,000 | 0.0% | 100,000 | 0.35 |
| 1961 | 35,000 | — | 100,000 | 0.35 |
Trade, 2024
- Imports
- 17,917 t USD 13.6 m
- Importer rank
- 1 of 28
FAOSTAT detailed trade data, release of 23 July 2026; quantities in tonnes, values in current US dollars; exports include re-exports. World exporters and importers
Questions and answers
What is the production of castor oil seeds in China?
China produced 20,000 t in 2024, 1.1% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.
Where does China rank in the world for production of castor oil seeds?
China ranked 4th of 31 countries in 2024. The largest producer was India with 87.5% of the world total.
How has the production of castor oil seeds in China changed?
It fell by 50% between 2014 and 2024, compared with −13% for the world. The record was 330,000 t in 1987.
What is the yield of castor oil seeds in China?
2.0 tonnes per hectare in 2024 (20,000 t from 10,000 ha), against a world average of 1.5 t/ha.
Does China export or import castor oil seeds?
In 2024 China reported no exports and imports of 17,917 t (USD 13.6 m), according to FAOSTAT trade data.
Where does this data come from?
From FAOSTAT, the statistics database of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations; the 2024 figure for China is from an external organisation. Shares, ranks and per-person figures are calculated by Husfarm.
Other large producers
Source: FAO. 2025. FAOSTAT: Crops and livestock products. Accessed on 4 November 2026. fao.org/faostat. Licence: CC BY 4.0. Charts, rankings and changes calculated by Husfarm.