For anyone searching for edible oil importers in Singapore , it is worth looking at the country as a trading and processing centre rather than simply a consumer market. Singapore produces very little of the raw material itself, yet huge volumes of vegetable oils pass through its commercial network. Malaysia and Indonesia are close neighbours, the world's major shipping routes run past Singapore, and the country has built an entire business ecosystem around refining, storage, trading and food ingredients.
Palm oil naturally has a big presence. In 2024, Malaysia reported 160.16 million kg of palm oil and liquid fractions shipped to Singapore. Singapore also recorded 15.34 million kg of soybean oil and its fractions , along with more than 24 million kg of sunflower and safflower oil across crude and non-crude categories.
And not every cargo is meant for Singaporean consumers. Some oil is processed or packed locally, some goes to manufacturers, and some is traded onwards to another country.
The main categories give a better feel for the market:
| Edible Oil / Product | 2024 Import Quantity | 2024 Import Value | Major Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palm oil & liquid fractions - HS 151190 | 160.42 million kg | $169.78 million | Malaysia, Indonesia |
| Soybean oil & fractions - HS 1507 | 15.34 million kg | $22.30 million | Malaysia, Thailand, Italy, China |
| Crude sunflower/safflower oil - HS 151211 | 10.22 million kg | $12.88 million | Bulgaria, Russia, Spain, Ukraine |
| Non-crude sunflower/safflower oil - HS 151219 | 13.90 million kg | $37.70 million | Malaysia, Ukraine, U.S., India, Turkey |
| Palm-kernel/babassu oil other than crude - HS 151329 | 1.68 million kg | $2.73 million | Malaysia, U.S., Indonesia |
| Crude soybean oil - HS 150710 | 0.56 million kg | $0.88 million | Italy, China, Thailand |
The HS 151190 figure is based on supplier-reported exports to Singapore because the available WITS import-side record is not consistently populated. Malaysia alone reported 160.16 million kg shipped to Singapore.
Sources: World Bank WITS / UN Comtrade.
The Malaysian connection is especially strong. Malaysia reported 160.16 million kg of non-crude palm oil and liquid fractions going to Singapore in 2024, worth roughly $169.51 million . Indonesia's contribution in this particular category was much smaller.
Soybean oil has a more scattered supplier base. Malaysia accounted for about 8.88 million kg, followed by Thailand at 3.13 million kg, Italy at 1.52 million kg and China at 1.22 million kg.
Sunflower oil comes from another set of origins altogether. Singapore imported 10.22 million kg of crude sunflower/safflower oil , with Bulgaria, Russia, Spain and Ukraine among the main suppliers. Refined and other non-crude sunflower oil brought another 13.90 million kg into the country, led by Malaysia and Ukraine.
Palm-kernel oil is a smaller trade, although Malaysia again dominates. Of the 1.68 million kg imported under HS 151329, around 1.61 million kg came from Malaysia.
Sources: World Bank WITS / UN Comtrade.
Singapore's role in this trade has a lot to do with geography.
Malaysia and Indonesia are practically next door. Both are major palm-oil producers, and Singapore sits right beside the shipping routes that connect Southeast Asia with India, China, Europe and the Middle East. For an oil trader, that is a rather useful place to be.
Over time, the businesses around this location have become just as important as the location itself.
Wilmar International is headquartered in Singapore and has operations covering oilseed crushing, edible-oil refining, commodity merchandising, food products and specialty fats. It is a very large business, but its presence also tells you something about the kind of trade Singapore attracts: raw agricultural commodities coming in, being processed or traded, and moving further through the supply chain.
Mewah International is another familiar name in the edible-oil business. Its regional operations cover refineries and processing facilities, while Ngo Chew Hong Edible Oil Pte Ltd handles palm-based cooking oils, soft oils, lauric oils, vegetable ghee and specialty fats in Singapore.
Apical is another Singapore-headquartered group active in vegetable oils, downstream processing and specialty fats.
This is why the Singapore market can look slightly unusual from an exporter's point of view. A company listed as a Singapore buyer may not necessarily be buying for the Singapore retail market. It could be supplying a food manufacturer, running a refining operation, trading bulk oil or arranging cargo for another destination.
For suppliers looking for edible oil buyers in Singapore , that wider role of the country is worth keeping in mind.
| HS Code | Product |
|---|---|
| 150710 | Crude soybean oil |
| 150790 | Soybean oil other than crude |
| 151110 | Crude palm oil |
| 151190 | Palm oil other than crude and its fractions |
| 151211 | Crude sunflower/safflower oil |
| 151219 | Sunflower/safflower oil other than crude |
| 151321 | Crude palm-kernel or babassu oil |
| 151329 | Palm-kernel or babassu oil other than crude |
Sources: World Bank WITS / UN Comtrade; Singapore Food Agency.
Singapore's buyer side is dominated by companies that do more than import and resell cooking oil.
Wilmar International is one of the obvious names, with a business stretching from oilseed processing and refining to commodity trading and food products. Mewah International has a similar connection with the edible-oil trade, while Ngo Chew Hong Edible Oil is involved directly in refining and packing.
Apical also has a sizable presence in vegetable oils and specialty fats. ANA Oils , meanwhile, operates from Singapore as a trading and sourcing business dealing in edible oils and palm-oil derivatives.
| Buyer / Company | Relevant Product / Category | Trade Relevance |
|---|---|---|
| Wilmar International | Palm, soybean, sunflower and other vegetable oils | Singapore-headquartered agribusiness with refining, trading and distribution operations |
| Mewah International | Vegetable oils, palm-based oils and specialty fats | Major regional edible-oil and fats business |
| Ngo Chew Hong Edible Oil Pte Ltd | Palm, soft and lauric oils, vegetable ghee | Singapore edible-oil refining and packing operation |
| Apical Group / AAA Oils & Fats | Palm oil and derivatives, edible oils and specialty fats | Singapore-headquartered vegetable-oil processor and trader |
| MOI International Singapore | Cooking oils and specialty fats | Marketing and supply arm of Mewah's consumer-pack business |
| ANA Oils | Edible oils and palm-oil derivatives | Singapore-based trading and sourcing operation |
Sources: Wilmar International, Mewah Group, Ngo Chew Hong, Apical Group and ANA Oils.
Mewah, for example, is not limited to consumer packs. Its business also covers bulk vegetable oils and fats supplied to distributors and food manufacturers, including customers in bakery and confectionery.
That is the kind of distinction an exporter needs to make before approaching a Singapore buyer. One company may want crude palm oil for processing. Another may be interested in refined sunflower oil. A trading company may have a customer waiting somewhere outside Singapore.
The company name alone will not tell you which one it is.
Port of Singapore: Singapore's main port is the obvious centre of the country's international cargo movement. Its location on major east-west shipping routes, combined with the industrial facilities around the port, has helped Singapore become a natural base for commodity trading and processing.
Jurong Port: Jurong has a strong connection with Singapore's bulk and industrial cargo. Its western location also puts it close to a number of manufacturing and storage facilities.
Pasir Panjang Terminal: Pasir Panjang forms part of Singapore's wider port network and handles cargo moving through the country's maritime system. For edible oils, its relevance comes mainly from that broader logistics connection rather than from being a dedicated oil terminal.
For a bulk-oil exporter, the first question is therefore not necessarily which Singapore port handles the most cargo. It is where the buyer's refinery, tank farm or processing facility is located and how the cargo will move after discharge.
Cooking oil is treated as a processed food in Singapore, so commercial imports come under the Singapore Food Agency's food-import system. Businesses bringing regulated food into the country need the appropriate registration, Customs setup and import permits.
Food Safety: Imported edible oil has to comply with Singapore's food-safety requirements. Depending on the product, importers may also need supporting information or quality testing.
Food Standards: Cooking oils fall under Singapore's Food Regulations. Requirements relating to contaminants, additives and product composition should be checked against the exact oil being shipped.
Labelling: Prepacked cooking oil sold in Singapore has to follow the country's labelling requirements. Imported food labels need details such as the local importer, distributor or agent and the country of origin.
Import Registration: Commercial importers of processed food must be registered with SFA, have an ACRA registration and maintain an activated Singapore Customs account.
Documentation: The exact documents depend on the product and its origin. Some regulated foods require additional supporting documents, while processed-food imports require the appropriate import permit.
One point deserves particular attention when dealing with Malaysian supply. Singapore's Enhanced Regulated Source Programme applies to edible oil imported from Malaysia and can require the product to come from registered establishments, with documents such as invoices, packing lists and manufacturer licences required for each consignment.
For bulk shipments, it is much easier to sort out the specification and paperwork while the deal is being negotiated. Once the cargo is loaded, there is considerably less room to fix a mismatch.
For suppliers looking for edible oil buyers in Singapore, Tradologie provides a direct setting for the commercial discussion.
Its live negotiation feature lets buyers and sellers discuss quantity, specification and price directly. A buyer can also make counteroffers, so the final commercial terms are worked out between the two sides.
Tradologie does not interfere in pricing. The buyer and seller decide the price and other commercial terms themselves.
Depending on what both parties agree, payment can include Letter of Credit or advance payment with the balance against proof of dispatch.
Tradologie also provides end-to-end transactional support, helping the parties move from the initial discussion towards execution.
Singapore is a major trading and processing centre, with businesses involved in refining, storage, commodity trading and food ingredients. Some imported oil is also processed or traded onward to other markets.
Singapore recorded 160.42 million kg of palm oil and liquid fractions under HS 151190, valued at approximately $169.78 million.
The source highlights Wilmar International, Mewah International, Ngo Chew Hong Edible Oil, Apical Group/AAA Oils & Fats, MOI International and ANA Oils.
In 2024, Singapore imported 15.34 million kg of soybean oil and 24.12 million kg of sunflower/safflower oil across crude and non-crude categories.
The Port of Singapore is the main international cargo gateway. Jurong Port and Pasir Panjang Terminal also form part of the country's wider logistics network.
Commercial imports of cooking oil fall under Singapore Food Agency requirements. Importers need appropriate registration, Customs setup and permits, while products must meet food-safety, composition and labelling requirements.
