Coconut oil and fractions market in Sub-Saharan Africa

Earlier Report Observations

The coconut oil market in Sub-Saharan Africa began the period at 102 000 t in 2018, supported by local producers like BELL HORIZON and COHUDI and the cultivation of hybrid coconut varieties. However, high global prices for coconut oil, which exceeded those of other vegetable oils, made exports increasingly attractive. This led to a rise in shipments from Nigeria, reducing domestic availability and contributing to a market decline to 92 000 t by 2020.

From 2021 to 2022, the market continued to contract, reaching 85 000 t. Export volumes remained elevated, peaking at nearly 14 000 t in 2022, while domestic production trended downward.

In 2023, the market rebounded to 93 000 t. This turnaround was driven by a sharp drop in exports to 4 500 t, alongside increased imports of over 10 000 t. The shift in trade flows reversed the previous years' downward trend.

Production coconut oil and fractions in Sub-Saharan Africa

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of coconut oil and fractions, 2017-2020

World map of production of coconut oil and fractions, 2017-2020

In Sub-Saharan Africa, coconut oil and fractions production reached 93.9 thousand tonnes in 2020, marking a 4.7% decrease from the previous year. Looking at the period from 2017 to 2020, production declined by 2.9%, which translates to an average annual reduction of 1.0%. The peak production was recorded in 2019 at 98.6 thousand tonnes, while the largest year-on-year increase occurred in 2018, with a growth of 1.8%.

Annual dynamics of production in Sub-Saharan Africa in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Exports coconut oil and fractions from Sub-Saharan Africa

Exports in kind, t

Exports of coconut oil and fractions from Sub-Saharan Africa have grown for the second year in a row. In 2020, exports totaled 10 011 tonnes, representing a significant 25.5% increase compared to 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, exports rose by 35.8%, with a compound annual growth rate of 10.7%. The lowest export volume was recorded in 2018 at 6 644 tonnes, which also saw the largest decline of 9.8% that year.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Sub-Saharan Africa in kind, 2017-2020, t

From 2017 to 2020, exports of coconut oil and fractions from Sub-Saharan Africa were distributed across numerous markets. The top three destinations—Switzerland with 19.7% of exports, Spain with 12.0%, and the Netherlands with 6.9%—collectively accounted for just 38.6% of total export flows, indicating a highly diversified market structure.

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

World map of product's exports from Sub-Saharan Africa in kind, 2017-2020

Exports in value, K $ US

Following a two-year decline, Sub-Saharan Africa's coconut oil and fractions exports in value terms rebounded. In 2020, exports reached 14 023 thousand US dollars, showing a sharp increase of 37.1% over the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, exports grew by 7.2%, equivalent to an annualized rate of 2.3%. The lowest value was recorded in 2019 at 10 226 thousand US dollars, which also experienced the largest drop of 19.0% that year.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Sub-Saharan Africa in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

During the 2017-2020 period, exports of coconut oil and fractions from Sub-Saharan Africa in value terms were widely spread across partner countries. Switzerland, with 23.6% of exports, Spain with 9.7%, and the Netherlands with 5.8% together represented only 39.2% of total flows, highlighting the broad geographical distribution of export revenues.

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

World map of product's exports from Sub-Saharan Africa in value, 2017-2020

Imports coconut oil and fractions to Sub-Saharan Africa

Imports in kind, t

After two consecutive years of decline, imports of coconut oil and fractions into Sub-Saharan Africa increased. In 2020, imports amounted to 7 974 tonnes, up by 1.2% from the previous year. However, over the 2017-2020 period, imports fell by 33.1%, averaging an annual decrease of 12.5%. The lowest import volume was in 2019 at 7 881 tonnes, which also saw the steepest decline of 21.1% that year.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Sub-Saharan Africa in kind, 2017-2020, t

From 2017 to 2020, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore dominated the import structure of coconut oil and fractions into Sub-Saharan Africa in volume terms. Indonesia accounted for 32.2% of imports, Malaysia for 21.3%, and Singapore for 10.3%, together making up 63.8% of total import flows.

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

World map of product's imports to Sub-Saharan Africa in kind, 2017-2020

Imports in value, K $ US

Following a two-year downturn, Sub-Saharan Africa's imports of coconut oil and fractions in value terms rose. In 2020, imports totaled 10 623 thousand US dollars, increasing by 7.8% compared to the previous year. Despite this, over the 2017-2020 period, imports decreased by 27.8%, with an annualized reduction rate of 10.3%. The minimum value was recorded in 2019 at 9 858 thousand US dollars, which also experienced the largest decline of 32.0% that year.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Sub-Saharan Africa in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

In the 2017-2020 period, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines were the key sources in the value-based import structure of coconut oil and fractions to Sub-Saharan Africa. Indonesia contributed 36.1% of imports, Malaysia 22.1%, and the Philippines 9.1%, collectively representing 67.2% of total import flows.

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

World map of product's imports to Sub-Saharan Africa in value, 2017-2020