
Overall, the value of imported cannabis oils increased by an average 42.8% for all buyer countries from $2.67 billion in 2017.
Year over year, global spending on imported cannabis oils grew by 8.7% compared to $3.51 billion for 2020.
The 5 largest buyers of imported cannabis oils are the United States of America, Germany, South Korea, France and Italy. Combined, that quintet of major importers spent over half (52.8%) of overall purchases for imported cannabis oils during 2021.
From a continental perspective, European countries spent the most on imported cannabis oils during 2021 with purchases costing $1.34 billion or 35.2% of the global total. Close behind in second place were North American importers at 33.1% while 25.7% of cannabis oils imported worldwide arrived in Asia.
Smaller percentages went to Latin America (2.7%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, Oceania (2.6%) led by Australia and New Zealand, then Africa (0.7%).
For research purposes, the 6-digit Harmonized Tariff System code prefix for cannabis oils is 130219 for cannabis oils, extracts and tinctures.
Cannabis Oils Imports by Country
Below are the 25 countries that paid the most for imported cannabis oils during 2021.
- United States: US$1.1 billion (30.1% of total cannabis oil imports)
- Germany: $290.9 million (7.6%)
- South Korea: $248.4 million (6.5%)
- France: $178.7 million (4.7%)
- Italy: $147.4 million (3.9%)
- China: $132.9 million (3.5%)
- Japan: $129 million (3.4%)
- Spain: $121.6 million (3.2%)
- Canada: $95.8 million (2.5%)
- Netherlands: $93 million (2.4%)
- Australia: $79.1 million (2.1%)
- United Kingdom: $75.8 million (2%)
- Austria: $61.4 million (1.6%)
- Belgium: $56.8 million (1.5%)
- Taiwan: $51.3 million (1.3%)
- Brazil: $51 million (1.3%)
- Hong Kong: $47.9 million (1.3%)
- Poland: $47.6 million (1.2%)
- Switzerland: $47.2 million (1.2%)
- Kazakhstan: $45.1 million (1.2%)
- India: $43.6 million (1.1%)
- Thailand: $42.7 million (1.1%)
- Indonesia: $33.8 million (0.9%)
- Malaysia: $33.1 million (0.9%)
- Ireland: $32.2 million (0.8%)
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing markets for cannabis oils since 2020 were: Kazakhstan (up 3,058%), mainland China (up 61.1%), Hong Kong (up 36.3%) and Italy (up 35.2%).
Those buyers that posted declines in their purchases of imported cannabis oils were led by: Ireland (down -31.7%), Japan (down -19.8%) and Canada (down -4.8%).
By value, the listed 25 countries purchased 87.4% of all cannabis oils imported in 2021.
Cannabis Oils Imported into the United States
America’s global purchases of imported cannabis oils totaled US$1.15 billion in 2021. Below are the top 15 suppliers from which America imported the highest dollar value worth of cannabis oils during 2021. Within parenthesis is the percentage change in value for each supplying country since 2020.
- India: US$347.9 million (up 3.3% from 2020)
- China: $299.5 million (up 10.9%)
- France: $95.9 million (up 8.4%)
- Spain: $74.3 million (up 18.1%)
- Italy: $55.5 million (up 28.4%)
- Mexico: $42.6 million (up 3.7%)
- Australia: $36.7 million (up 72.8%)
- Germany: $36.1 million (up 7.7%)
- Japan: $18.9 million (up 16.8%)
- Hong Kong: $17.9 million (up 130.8%)
- South Korea: $17.4 million (up 62.2%)
- Brazil: $16.6 million (up 103.3%)
- Switzerland: $16.2 million (down -14.3%)
- Canada: $8.1 million (down -32.7%)
- Israel: $6.7 million (up 34.8%)
By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 95.2% of cannabis oils imported by the United States of America in 2021.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing suppliers of cannabis oils to the United States since 2020 were: Hong Kong (up 130.8%), Brazil (up 103.3%), Australia (up 72.8%) and South Korea (up 62.2%).
Two top providers experienced declines in the value of their cannabis oils supplied to American importers namely Canada (down -32.7%) and Switzerland (down -14.3%).
Overall, the value of America’s imported cannabis oils rose by an average 11.6% from all supplying countries since 2020 when cannabis oils purchased cost $1 billion.
Cannabis Oils Imported into Germany
Germany’s global purchases of imported cannabis oils totaled US$290.9 million in 2021. Below are the top 15 suppliers from which Germany imported the highest dollar value worth of cannabis oils during 2021. Within parenthesis is the percentage change in value for each supplying country since 2020.
- Spain: US$42.3 million (down -2.2% from 2020)
- China: $41.3 million (up 5.9%)
- France: $31.3 million (up 0.1%)
- Ireland: $29.9 million (up 11.7%)
- Madagascar: $27.8 million (up 13.6%)
- Italy: $21.8 million (up 22.5%)
- Switzerland: $17.7 million (down -3.3%)
- India: $17.2 million (up 5.6%)
- United States: $11 million (down -24.2%)
- Kenya: $9.6 million (up 0.5%)
- Netherlands: $8.6 million (up 22.3%)
- Mexico: $5.9 million (up 35.1%)
- South Africa: $2.9 million (up 86.3%)
- Austria: $2.9 million (up 141.9%)
- Slovenia: $2.8 million (up 0.8%)
By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 93.9% of cannabis oils imported by Germany in 2021.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing suppliers of cannabis oils to Germany since 2020 were: Austria (up 141.9%), South Africa (up 86.3%), Mexico (up 35.1%) and Italy (up 22.5%).
A trio of major providers experienced declines in the value of their cannabis oils supplied to German importers namely the United States of America (down -24.2%), Switzerland (down -3.3%) and Spain (down -2.2%).
Overall, the value of Germany’s imported cannabis oils fell by an average -3.6% from all supplying countries since 2020 when cannabis oils purchased cost $301.8 million.
Cannabis Oils Imported into South Korea
South Korea’s global purchases of imported cannabis oils totaled US$248.4 million in 2021. Below are the top 15 suppliers from which South Korea imported the highest dollar value worth of cannabis oils during 2021. Within parenthesis is the percentage change in value for each supplying country since 2020.
- China: US$55.3 million (up 9.7% from 2020)
- Vietnam: $53.1 million (up 22.3%)
- India: $34.9 million (up 1.1%)
- France: $26.9 million (down -3.9%)
- United States: $20.7 million (up 24.6%)
- Spain: $14.7 million (up 8.1%)
- Germany: $12.9 million (down -0.6%)
- Italy: $5.7 million (down -50%)
- Mexico: $5.4 million (down -13.4%)
- Switzerland: $3.1 million (down -32.1%)
- Japan: $2.6 million (down -15.1%)
- Singapore: $1.9 million (up 47%)
- Canada: $1.45 million (down -33.2%)
- Indonesia: $1.38 million (up 64.4%)
- Costa Rica: $1.2 million (down -64.9%)
By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 97.1% of cannabis oils imported by South Korea in 2021.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing suppliers of cannabis oils to South Korea since 2020 were: Indonesia (up 64.4%), Singapore (up 47%), United States of America (up 24.6%) and Vietnam (up 22.3%).
Countries that experienced declines in the value of their cannabis oils supplied to Korean importers included: Costa Rica (down -64.9%), Italy (down -50%), Canada (down -33.2%) and Switzerland (down -32.1%).
Overall, the value of South Korea’s imported cannabis oils advanced by an average 3% from all supplying countries since 2020 when cannabis oils purchased cost $241.1 million.
Cannabis Oils Imported into France
France’s global purchases of imported cannabis oils totaled US$178.7 million in 2021. Below are the top 15 suppliers from which France imported the highest dollar value worth of cannabis oils during 2021. Within parenthesis is the percentage change in value for each supplying country since 2020.
- Italy: US$23.2 million (up 1.9% from 2020)
- China: $23 million (up 34.2%)
- United States: $22.4 million (down -17.5%)
- Spain: $21.4 million (up 9.8%)
- India: $17.6 million (up 86.5%)
- Morocco: $15.5 million (up 16.8%)
- Germany: $12.6 million (down -5.2%)
- Switzerland: $8.6 million (up 25%)
- Belgium: $4.4 million (down -31.3%)
- Mexico: $3.9 million (up 14.4%)
- Australia: $3.8 million (up 19.9%)
- Japan: $3.7 million (up 39.6%)
- Canada: $2.4 million (up 33.2%)
- Madagascar: $1.6 million (down -45.9%)
- Portugal: $1.4 million (up 8,600%)
By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 92.6% of cannabis oils imported by France in 2021.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing suppliers of cannabis oils to France since 2020 were: Portugal (up 8,600%), India (up 86.5%), Japan (up 39.6%) and mainland China (up 34.2%).
Four top providers experienced declines in the value of their cannabis oils supplied to French importers namely Madagascar (down -45.9%), Belgium (down -31.3%), United States of America (down -17.5%) and Germany (down -5.2%).
Overall, the value of France’s imported cannabis oils increased by an average 8.2% from all supplying countries since 2020 when cannabis oils purchased cost $165.1 million.
See also Imports of Drugs and Medicines by Country, Sugar Imports by Country and Top Cannabis Oils Exports by Country
Research Sources:
Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook Field Listing: Imports – Commodities. Accessed on August 22, 2022
Cision, Companies That Stand to Benefit From Record Growth in CBD Market (press release). Accessed on August 22, 2022
International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on August 22, 2022
Investopedia, Net Exports Definition. Accessed on August 22, 2022
The Motley Fool, The 10 Largest Marijuana Stocks by Sean Williams. Accessed on August 22, 2022
The Street, 5 Cannabis Products on the Rise in 2021 by Steve Fiorillo. Accessed on August 22, 2022
Wikipedia, Hash oil. Accessed on August 22, 2022