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

Earlier Report Observations

The Senegalese market for coconut, palm kernel or babassu oil and fractions saw its volume rise from 4 040 t in 2018 to a peak of 5 166 t in 2019, before contracting to 3 641 t in 2022 and recovering slightly to 3 922 t in 2023. This volatility was largely import-driven, with imports jumping to 1 762 t in 2019 then falling sharply. Government measures played a key role: a 25% surcharge on palm oil imports and 15% on other oils was implemented to protect local output, while special agricultural programs provided subsidized inputs and processing equipment to small peanut oil producers, helping keep domestic production stable at approximately 3 400 t annually.

Local processing capacity expanded with several projects, including new palm oil production lines and plans for refineries, supported by the Emerging Senegal Plan (PSE) and the National Oil Palm Development Program. In 2023, the government launched a platform with the Unacois traders' union to promote sales of locally produced peanut oil and restrict imported oil until local stocks were cleared. These steps, along with ongoing quality improvements for domestic peanut oil, contributed to a modest production increase to 3 445 t in 2023 and a rebound in market volume after three years of decline.

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

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

In 2020, Senegal produced 3 404 tonnes of coconut, palm kernel, or babassu oil and fractions, a figure that remained virtually unchanged from 2019. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, production decreased by 7.8%, which translates to an annualized decline of 2.7%. The highest production level was recorded in 2018 at 3 780 tonnes, marking a 2.4% increase from the previous year. However, the largest decline occurred in 2019, with a drop of 10.0%.

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

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

Exports in kind, t

The export market for coconut, palm kernel, or babassu oil and fractions from Senegal showed noticeable fluctuations during the period. Exports reached their lowest point in 2017 and peaked in 2018, with an 8.9-fold difference between these years. In 2019, Senegal exported 0.3 tonnes, representing an 87.4% decrease compared to the previous year. The maximum export volume was recorded in 2018 at 2 tonnes, which was a substantial increase of 788.9% from 2017.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Cabo Verde was the primary destination for Senegal's exports in kind, accounting for 80.7% of total flows. Other markets contributed smaller shares, forming a long tail of partners.

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

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

Exports in value, K $ US

The export market in value terms exhibited volatility over the observed period. Volumes dropped to a minimum in 2018 and climbed to their maximum in 2019, showing a 6.2-fold shift. In 2019, the value of coconut, palm kernel, or babassu oil and fractions exported from Senegal was 1 thousand US dollars, marking a sharp rise of 522.3% from the previous year. The minimum value was recorded in 2018 at 0.2 thousand US dollars, with the largest decline that year at 63.8%.

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

During 2017–2020, the country structure of exports in value terms was highly concentrated, with Canada and France together accounting for 90.0% of total flows. Other partners made up the remaining share.

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

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

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

Imports in kind, t

The import market in kind displayed an unstable trend throughout the timeframe. Imports reached their lowest point in 2018 and peaked in 2019, with a 6.7-fold gap between these years. In 2020, Senegal imported 918 tonnes of coconut, palm kernel, or babassu oil and fractions, indicating a steep decrease of 47.9% from the previous year. The minimum import volume was recorded in 2018 at 262 tonnes, while the maximum was in 2019 at 1 762 tonnes. The largest decline occurred in 2018 at 67.1%, and the largest increase was in 2019 at 572.6%.

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

Throughout 2017–2020, the core group of markets for imports in kind consisted of Côte d'Ivoire (43.4% of imports in kind), Ghana (20.6% of imports in kind), and Liberia (12.2% of imports in kind), together representing 76.2% of total flows.

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

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

Imports in value, K $ US

Volatility characterized the import market in value terms during these years. Imports dropped to a trough in 2018 and peaked in 2019, showing a 4.1-fold gap. In 2020, Senegal's import volume of coconut, palm kernel, or babassu oil and fractions was recorded at 813 thousand US dollars, indicating a sharp decline of 40.2% year-over-year. The minimum value was in 2018 at 335 thousand US dollars, with the largest decline that year at 75.0%, while the maximum value was in 2019 at 1 360 thousand US dollars, marking the largest increase at 306.4%.

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

In 2017–2020, the leading destinations for imports in value terms of coconut, palm kernel, or babassu oil and fractions to Senegal were Côte d'Ivoire (48.6% of imports in value terms), Ghana (16.4% of imports in value terms), and Liberia (11.2% of imports in value terms), which jointly accounted for 76.1% of total flows.

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

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