Castor seeds market in Madagascar

Earlier Report Observations

From 2018 to 2020, Madagascar's castor seeds market volume grew steadily from 2 738 to 2 775 tons. This expansion was driven by value-chain development initiatives in the Androy region, where production increased with support from GIZ Madagascar and resilience projects. The local processor PhileoL Madagascar played a key role, investing in modern collection and oil extraction facilities aimed at sourcing over 250 tons of seeds from smallholder farmers.

The market reached 2 802 tons in 2021, supported by rising demand for 'green' castor oil used by industry to lower environmental impact. In 2022, volume dipped slightly to 2 743 tons, a period that saw the producer base organize into a network of around 7 000 farmers. Throughout the period, infrastructure constraints, particularly unreliable electricity in the south, intermittently affected processing capacity.

By 2023, the market recovered to a new high of 2 808 tons. The sector's resilience stems from castor's suitability to Madagascar's semi-arid climate and sustained demand from cosmetic, industrial, and energy applications, which kept local production on a gradual upward trajectory over the six-year span.

Production castor seeds in Madagascar

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Madagascar was one of the world's leading producers of castor seeds from 2017 to 2020, ranking 15th globally by production volume during this period.

Top producers of castor seeds, 2017-2020

World map of production of castor seeds, 2017-2020

Castor seeds production in Madagascar increased for the third consecutive year in 2020, reaching 2 775 tonnes. This represented a slight rise of 0.6% compared to the previous year. Over the entire 2017-2020 period, production grew by 2.3%, with a compound annual growth rate of 0.7%.

Annual dynamics of production in Madagascar in kind, 2017-2020, t

Exports castor seeds from Madagascar

Exports in kind, kg

The market exhibited significant volatility over the observed period. In 2019, exports hit their lowest point at just 10.0 kg, marking a sharp decline of 98.0%. However, in 2020, exports surged dramatically to 765.0 kg, representing an extraordinary increase of 7 550.0% from the previous year. This resulted in a 77-fold difference between the minimum in 2019 and the peak in 2020.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Madagascar in kind, 2017-2020, kg

From 2017 to 2020, Madagascar's castor seeds exports in kind were primarily directed towards Mozambique and Chad. Together, these two countries accounted for 99.2% of total export flows, with other destinations playing only a minor role.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Madagascar in kind, 2017-2020

Exports in value, $ US

The market displayed considerable volatility during these years. In 2019, export value bottomed out at just 6 US dollars, reflecting a steep decline of 99.8%. In contrast, 2020 saw exports peak at 8 961 US dollars, showing a remarkable surge of 155 196.7% compared to the previous year. This created a 1 553-fold difference between the low in 2019 and the high in 2020.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Madagascar in value, 2017-2020, $ US

During the 2017-2020 period, Mozambique and Chad formed the core of Madagascar's castor seeds exports in value terms, together representing 100.0% of total export flows.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Madagascar in value, 2017-2020

Imports castor seeds to Madagascar

Market data indicate that Madagascar did not import any castor seeds from 2017 to 2020.