Soybean oil price per ton in 2026 has been anything but quiet. Crude degummed soybean oil from Argentina was trading at roughly US$1,190 to US$1,230 a tonne FOB Up River between August and mid September 2026, while the global benchmark for crude soybean oil, measured in Europe, ran around US$1,580 to US$1,620 a tonne from May to July. Those two numbers already tell you the first lesson: there’s no single soybean oil price. It depends on the grade, the origin, the delivery point and the month.
We export crude, crude degummed, refined and high oleic soybean oil from Thailand to buyers worldwide. This guide explains what really sets the soybean oil price per ton, how crude and refined prices relate, what freight and packing add, why prices moved the way they did in 2026, and how to get a fair, firm quote from us.
Table of Contents
Soybean Oil Price Per Ton: The Short Answer
If you just want a feel for the numbers in 2026:
| Price point | Rough level in 2026 | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Crude degummed, FOB Argentina (Up River) | About US$1,190 to 1,230 per tonne (Aug to mid Sep) | Bulk crude oil loaded on a ship in Argentina |
| Crude degummed, FOB Brazil (Paranaguá) | Very close to Argentina in September | Bulk crude oil loaded in Brazil |
| Crude soybean oil benchmark, Europe | About US$1,580 to 1,620 per tonne (May to July average) | Crude oil ex-mill in the Netherlands |
| Refined soybean oil, delivered to your port | Crude price plus refining, packing and freight | What most importers actually pay |
These are market reference points, not our offer. Prices change every day with futures markets, and your actual price depends on grade, volume, packing, destination and timing. For a firm number, ask us for a quote.
Why There’s No Single Soybean Oil Price
When people search for the soybean oil price per ton, they usually see a headline number from Chicago futures or from Argentina, then get an offer that looks very different. That isn’t someone cheating. The two prices measure different things.
A soybean oil price is only meaningful when you know:
- Grade: crude, crude degummed, refined, or high oleic
- Origin: Argentina, Brazil, the US, or a refinery in Asia or Europe
- Delivery point: FOB at origin, CFR or CIF at your port, or delivered to your warehouse
- Packing: bulk vessel, flexitank, ISO tank, drums, tins, jerrycans or retail bottles
- Quantity: a single 20ft flexitank or 5,000 tonnes
- Timing: spot, next month, or a contract for the next six months
Change any one of those and the price per tonne changes. So when you compare offers, always compare like with like.
How Crude and Refined Prices Relate
Most of the world’s soybean oil is traded as crude degummed soybean oil (CDSO). That’s the base price everyone watches. Refined soybean oil is built on top of it.
| Step | What gets added |
|---|---|
| Crude degummed soybean oil | The base commodity price |
| Refining (neutralising, bleaching, deodorising) | Refining cost, chemicals, bleaching earth, energy, and oil lost in refining |
| Refiner margin | Varies with demand |
| Packing | Small for flexitanks, larger for drums, tins and bottles |
| Freight and insurance | Depends on route and container rates |
| Your import costs | Duties, taxes, port charges, inland transport |
So refined soybean oil delivered to your port in 25L jerrycans will always cost more per tonne than CDSO in a vessel at Rosario. That’s not a premium for the name. It’s the cost of every step between the crush plant and your warehouse.
For the full breakdown of the crude grade, see our guide to the crude degummed soybean oil specification.
What Moved Soybean Oil Prices in 2026
Several big forces pushed the soybean oil price per ton around this year.
1. Biofuel demand
This is the biggest change of the last few years. Soybean oil is a major feedstock for biodiesel and renewable diesel, especially in the US, Brazil and Argentina. When governments raise blending mandates or tax credits for biofuels, more soybean oil goes into fuel and less is left for food. Policy news in the US in particular has moved soybean oil prices sharply, sometimes in a single day.
2. South American crops and exports
Argentina is the world’s biggest exporter of soybean oil, and Brazil is close behind. Big crops and steady crushing keep oil flowing. Argentina shipped a record 742,000 tonnes of soybean oil in June 2026 alone, supported by strong demand from India. Strikes, river levels on the Paraná, export tax changes and farmer selling all matter.
3. India’s buying
India is the world’s biggest importer of edible oils, and it switches between palm, soybean and sunflower oil depending on price. When India buys soybean oil heavily, prices firm up. When palm oil gets cheaper, India shifts back and soybean oil loses support.
4. Palm and sunflower prices
Soybean oil competes with palm oil and sunflower oil for the same buyers. When the gap between soybean and palm gets too wide, buyers switch, and that pulls prices back together. Our post on palm oil vs soybean oil explains how the two compare.
5. US crush data and Chicago futures
Every month, US crushers report how many soybeans they processed and how much oil they have in stock. Lower crush or lower stocks than expected tends to lift prices. Chicago soybean oil futures react within minutes, and physical prices follow.
6. Freight and currency
Container rates, the US dollar and local currencies all affect what you pay at your port, even when the underlying commodity price doesn’t move.
Seasonal Patterns in the Soybean Oil Price
Soybean oil doesn’t follow a neat calendar, but there are patterns worth knowing.
- March to June: the South American harvest comes in and crushing in Argentina and Brazil runs hard. More oil is available for export, which often caps prices.
- July to September: markets watch the US crop as it grows. Weather scares in the US Midwest can lift soybean and soybean oil prices quickly.
- October to December: the US harvest arrives and US crushing peaks. Biofuel policy decisions for the next year are often announced or debated around this time.
- All year: India’s buying, palm oil output in Southeast Asia and freight rates add their own swings.
So if you have flexibility, it can pay to watch the calendar. But weather and policy can override any seasonal pattern, so don’t bet the business on it.
Crude vs Refined vs High Oleic: Price Differences
| Grade | Relative price | Typical buyers |
|---|---|---|
| Crude (non-degummed) soybean oil | Lowest | Buyers with their own degumming and refining |
| Crude degummed soybean oil (CDSO) | Base price | Refiners, biodiesel plants, traders |
| Refined soybean oil, bulk | CDSO plus refining cost and margin | Food factories, bottlers |
| Refined soybean oil, packed | Bulk refined plus packing | Distributors, wholesalers, food service |
| High oleic soybean oil | Premium over refined | Fryers, snack makers, long shelf life foods |
High oleic soybean oil carries a premium because supply is smaller and has to be kept separate from regular beans all the way through. Whether it’s worth it depends on how hard you work the oil. See high oleic soybean oil vs regular soybean oil.
What Packing Adds to the Price Per Ton
Packing can change your soybean oil price per ton more than people expect.
| Packing | Effect on price per tonne |
|---|---|
| Bulk vessel | Lowest, but only for very large volumes |
| Flexitank (about 20 to 22 tonnes per 20ft container) | Low. One-off bag cost per container |
| ISO tank | A bit higher, rental and repositioning cost |
| 180 to 200 kg steel drums | Higher. Drum cost per tonne adds up |
| 18L tins and 25L jerrycans | Higher again. Popular with food service |
| 1L and 5L PET bottles | Highest per tonne. Bottles, caps, labels, cartons |
If you’re buying for a factory, bulk in flexitanks is usually the cheapest way to land refined soybean oil. If you’re selling to restaurants and shops, the extra cost of tins, jerrycans or bottles is part of the product. Our guide to flexitank vs ISO tank and our post on vegetable oil export packaging go into more detail.
FOB, CFR and CIF: Which Price Are You Looking At?
A big source of confusion when comparing a soybean oil price per ton is the delivery term.
- FOB (Free On Board): price for oil loaded on the ship at the origin port. You pay freight and insurance.
- CFR (Cost and Freight): price includes freight to your port. You pay insurance.
- CIF (Cost, Insurance and Freight): price includes freight and insurance to your port.
An FOB offer from one supplier and a CIF offer from another can look very different and still be the same deal. Always convert them to the same basis before you compare. We quote FOB Thailand, CFR or CIF to your port, whichever you prefer.
How to Estimate Your Landed Cost
Here’s how to turn a soybean oil price per ton into what it actually costs you:
- Start with the price per tonne on the agreed term (FOB, CFR or CIF).
- If FOB, add ocean freight per tonne and insurance.
- Add destination port charges and documentation.
- Add import duties and taxes for your country.
- Add customs broker fees and inland transport.
- Add bank charges for your payment method.
- Divide by the net tonnes you actually receive.
Do this once with real numbers and you’ll see which offers are really cheapest. Payment method matters too. Our guide on letter of credit vs TT payment explains the costs of each.
A Worked Example
Here’s how a soybean oil price per ton turns into a real order. The numbers are illustrative only, to show the method.
Say you want one 20ft container of refined soybean oil in a flexitank, about 21 tonnes, delivered CIF to your port.
| Item | How it’s worked out |
|---|---|
| Oil price | Refined soybean oil price per tonne for the month of shipment |
| Flexitank | One bag, fitted in the container, divided over 21 tonnes |
| Inland and port costs in Thailand | Trucking, loading, export documents |
| Freight | Container freight to your port, divided over 21 tonnes |
| Insurance | A small percentage of the cargo value |
| Total CIF price per tonne | The sum of the above |
Now repeat it for the same oil in 18L tins. The oil price is the same, but tins, cartons and pallets add a lot per tonne, and fewer tonnes fit in the container. That’s why packed oil always quotes higher.
Our Soybean Oil Grades and Specifications
Here’s what we can quote for you.
Refined Soybean Oil
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Appearance | Clear, light coloured liquid |
| Odour and taste | Neutral, bland, free from rancidity |
| Free fatty acids (as oleic) | 0.1% max |
| Moisture and volatile matter | 0.10% max |
| Insoluble impurities | 0.05% max |
| Peroxide value | 10 meq O2/kg max (typical 5 or less) |
| Iodine value (Wijs) | 120 to 141 |
| Saponification value | 189 to 195 |
| Unsaponifiable matter | 1.0% max |
| Colour (Lovibond 5.25″) | 2.0 red max |
| Shelf life | 12 to 18 months |
See refined soybean oil for sale.
Other Soybean Grades
- Crude soybean oil: FFA 2.0% max, moisture and volatile matter 0.30% max, for refiners and industrial use.
- Crude degummed soybean oil: FFA 0.75% max, phosphorus 200 ppm max, for refiners and biodiesel.
- High oleic soybean oil: oleic acid 70% min, for frying and long shelf life foods.
All our oils are produced under ISO 22000, HACCP, GMP and Halal.
Soybean Oil Price Per Ton by Destination
The same oil lands at very different prices depending on where it’s going. Freight, duties and local competition all play a part.
| Destination region | What usually matters most for your landed price |
|---|---|
| Southeast Asia | Short freight from Thailand, competition from palm oil |
| South Asia (India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka) | Import duties that change often, strong price sensitivity |
| Middle East and Gulf | Freight, packing in tins and jerrycans, Halal documents |
| East Africa | Freight, port charges, local packing preferences |
| West Africa | Longer freight, port congestion at times, demand for jerrycans and drums |
| Europe | Sustainability and GMO documents, strict food safety tests |
| Americas and Caribbean | Competition from local US and South American supply, freight |
That’s why we always ask for your port before we quote a soybean oil price per ton. A price that works in Malaysia won’t be the same in Lagos or Rotterdam.
How We Price Our Offers
When you ask us for a soybean oil price per ton, we build it like this:
- Today’s cost of the oil for the grade you want, based on the market
- Refining and quality testing, if it’s refined oil
- Packing in your chosen format, with private label if needed
- Inland transport, export documents and loading in Thailand
- Freight and insurance, if you want CFR or CIF
We show the delivery term clearly, and if you want CFR or CIF we can show the freight part separately so you can compare it with your own forwarder. Every offer has a validity date, because the market moves.
How to Get the Best Soybean Oil Price
From years of quoting, here’s what gets buyers better prices:
- Be clear on grade and spec. A tight spec you don’t need costs money.
- Buy in full container loads. Part loads cost more per tonne.
- Pick the packing that fits your market, not the most expensive one.
- Agree supply for several months. A contract with fixed volumes lets the supplier plan and price better.
- Be flexible on shipment timing by a week or two.
- Use payment terms both sides are comfortable with. An LC from a good bank can help.
- Compare landed cost, not headline price.
Price Risk: Fixed Price vs Formula Price
Because soybean oil moves so much, some buyers don’t fix the price at the time of contract. There are two common approaches:
- Fixed price: you agree a price per tonne now for delivery later. Simple, but you carry the risk if the market falls, and the seller carries it if it rises.
- Formula or basis price: the price is linked to Chicago futures or another benchmark, plus or minus an agreed premium, and fixed later. More flexible, but you need to watch the market.
Most smaller importers prefer a fixed price for each shipment. Larger buyers often use a basis approach or fix in parts. If you want to discuss either, we can explain how it would work for your volume.
Common Mistakes When Comparing Prices
- Comparing a futures price in cents per pound with a physical price in dollars per tonne. They’re different units and different products.
- Comparing crude CDSO prices with refined, packed oil.
- Ignoring packing cost.
- Comparing FOB with CIF.
- Forgetting duties and port charges.
- Chasing a price far below the market. Usually that means old oil, a weaker spec, or worse. Our post on how to spot a fake vegetable oil supplier lists the warning signs.
Converting Prices: Per Ton, Per Litre, Per Pound
Different markets quote soybean oil in different units. A few quick conversions help:
- 1 metric ton = 1,000 kg = about 1,086 litres of soybean oil at 20°C (density around 0.92 kg/L).
- 1 metric ton = 2,204.6 pounds.
- A price of US$1,200 per tonne is about US$1.10 per litre, or about 54 US cents per pound.
So if a retailer in your market sells soybean oil at a certain price per litre, you can work back to a price per tonne quickly. More on this in our post on how many liters in a ton of vegetable oil.
Where to Watch the Market
If you buy regularly, it’s worth following a few public sources:
- Chicago soybean oil futures, for the direction of the market
- Monthly US crush reports
- Export data from Argentina and Brazil
- Monthly commodity price series such as the global price of soybean oil published on FRED
- The USDA oilseeds world markets and trade report, which covers supply and demand for all major oils
These won’t give you your delivered price, but they tell you whether the market is rising or falling before you ask for a quote.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the soybean oil price per ton today?
It changes daily. In August and September 2026, crude degummed soybean oil from Argentina traded roughly between US$1,190 and US$1,230 per tonne FOB. Refined, packed oil delivered to your port costs more. Ask us for a firm quote.
Why is refined soybean oil more expensive than crude?
Refining costs money and loses some oil. Then you add packing, freight and insurance.
Is soybean oil cheaper than palm oil?
Usually not. Palm oil is often cheaper per tonne, though the gap changes through the year.
What is the cheapest way to buy soybean oil?
Bulk, in full container flexitanks or larger, on a contract for several shipments.
Do you sell soybean oil in small quantities?
We usually work from one container. Ask if you need less, and we’ll tell you straight whether we can help.
How long is a soybean oil quote valid?
Usually a short time, often 24 to 72 hours, because the market moves daily. We’ll state the validity on every offer.
Get a Soybean Oil Quote
The soybean oil price per ton you actually pay depends on grade, packing, delivery term and timing. Tell us what you need and we’ll give you a clear number with nothing hidden. We export refined, crude, crude degummed and high oleic soybean oil from Thailand worldwide, in flexitanks, ISO tanks, drums, tins, jerrycans and bottles, with private label available and independent inspection on request.
Send your grade, quantity, packing, destination port and preferred delivery term (FOB, CFR or CIF). We’ll reply with a firm price, the validity, and a full specification sheet.
Email info@dthcompanyltd.com, WhatsApp +66 91 765 9104, or use our contact page. You can also see our full range of products.
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