Coconut, palm kernel or babassu oil and fractions market in Burundi

Earlier Report Observations

Market production of coconut, palm kernel or babassu oil and fractions in Burundi grew from 2 616 tons in 2018 to 3 353 tons in 2019. This increase was supported by the state-owned Office de l’Huile de Palme (OHP), which modernized plantations by replacing old 'Dura' palm varieties with the higher-yielding 'Tenera' type, and by the establishment of the Ministry of Environment, Agriculture and Livestock, which introduced policies to promote agricultural innovation.

Output fell to 3 027 tons in 2020 due to a reported drop in industrial production, which constrained local supply. The market recovered to 3 665 tons in 2021 following the inauguration of the new industrial processing complex CIKAR in Rumonge, which added modern refining capacity. Reduced imports of oil from the Democratic Republic of Congo further bolstered demand for domestic production.

Production stabilized around 3 770 tons in 2022 and 2023. Throughout the period, artisanal processing units, accounting for 80–90% of transformation, remained dominant but faced persistent quality and packaging challenges. The revised National Development Plan 2018–2027 continued to guide sector policy, while seasonal output fluctuations influenced local price movements.

Production coconut, palm kernel or babassu oil and fractions in Burundi

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Top producers of coconut, palm kernel or babassu oil and fractions, 2017-2020

World map of production of coconut, palm kernel or babassu oil and fractions, 2017-2020

Burundi produced 3,027 tonnes of coconut, palm kernel, or babassu oil and fractions in 2020, marking a 9.7% decrease from 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, production grew by 11.6%, with an average annual growth rate of 3.7%. The lowest production level was in 2018 at 2,616 tonnes, while the peak occurred in 2019 with 3,353 tonnes. The most significant year-on-year increase was in 2019, at 28.2%.

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

Exports coconut, palm kernel or babassu oil and fractions from Burundi

Exports in kind, t

Export volumes showed irregular fluctuations, pointing to a volatile market. The lowest point was in 2020 at 6.6 tonnes, which represented a sharp 72.2% drop from the previous year. In contrast, the highest export volume was recorded in 2018 at 38.8 tonnes, resulting in a 5.9-fold difference between the 2018 peak and the 2020 low. The largest increase occurred in 2018, surging by 189.5%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Burundi in kind, 2017-2020, t

From 2017 to 2020, Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of the Congo were the primary destinations for Burundi's exports of coconut, palm kernel, or babassu oil and fractions, together accounting for 96.7% of total export volumes. The remaining share was distributed among various other countries.

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

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

Exports in value, K $ US

Export values from Burundi declined for the third consecutive year. In 2020, exports totaled 0.7 thousand US dollars, a dramatic 97.3% decrease from 2019. Between 2017 and 2020, exports fell by 99.7%, equivalent to an annualized decline of 85.3%.

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

During the 2017-2020 period, India dominated Burundi's export value for coconut, palm kernel, or babassu oil and fractions, holding a 77.5% share of total flows. The remainder was spread across other trading partners.

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

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

Imports coconut, palm kernel or babassu oil and fractions to Burundi

Imports in kind, t

Import volumes experienced irregular shifts, reflecting market volatility. The low point was in 2020 at 70.3 tonnes, down 79.4% from the previous year. The peak occurred in 2019 with 341.8 tonnes, creating a 4.9-fold gap between these years. The most substantial increase was in 2018, rising by 32.6%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Burundi in kind, 2017-2020, t

From 2017 to 2020, nearly all imports of coconut, palm kernel, or babassu oil and fractions to Burundi came from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which represented 95.6% of total import volumes.

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

World map of product's imports to Burundi in kind, 2017-2020

Imports in value, K $ US

Import values displayed an unstable trend over the period. The lowest was in 2020 at 69.0 thousand US dollars, a 76.3% decrease year-over-year. The highest was in 2019 at 290.5 thousand US dollars, resulting in a 4.2-fold difference. The largest increase took place in 2018, climbing by 26.9%.

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

Throughout 2017-2020, import values were heavily concentrated on the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which made up 95.6% of total flows.

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

World map of product's imports to Burundi in value, 2017-2020