Market research

Palm kernel or babassu oil and fractions market in Eastern Africa

$Palm kernel or babassu oil and fractions market in Eastern Africa$

Release date: Mar 28, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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"Eastern Africa" region includes following countries:

British Indian Ocean Territory

Burundi

Comoros

Mayotte

Ethiopia

Eritrea

French Southern Territories

Djibouti

Kenya

Madagascar

Malawi

Mauritius

Mozambique

Reunion

Rwanda

Seychelles

Somalia

Zimbabwe

South Sudan

Uganda

Tanzania

Zambia

Earlier Report Observations

Between 2018 and 2020, the market for palm kernel or babassu oil in Eastern Africa experienced significant shifts. In 2018, high imports of 30.2 thousand tons drove the market size to 37.7 thousand tons, supported by increasing demand and government initiatives to assess the viability of local palm oil production. The following year, government efforts to promote domestic oil palm farming aimed at reducing import costs led to a 28.7% drop in market size to 26.9 thousand tons as imports fell sharply. In 2020, global palm oil price surges and supply chain disruptions from major exporters like Indonesia and Malaysia affected local prices and availability, contributing to market stabilization at 26.5 thousand tons.

From 2021 to 2023, market volumes showed recovery and volatility. In 2021, without specific disruptive factors, the market grew by 7.2% to 28.4 thousand tons due to increased production and imports. The year 2022 saw a 23.8% decline to 21.6 thousand tons, influenced by sustained high palm oil prices that reduced consumer purchasing power. By 2023, a sharp 74.8% rise in imports to 26.6 thousand tons propelled the market size up by 34.2% to 29.0 thousand tons, while local production remained steady at 7.9 thousand tons.

Table of content

1. Disclaimer
2. Terms of use of the report
3. Product codes in the statistical classifications used in the report
4. Key Market Indicators and Trends
1. 4.1. Key Market Indicators
  1. 4.1.1. In kind
    1. 4.1.1.1. Production, 2018-2023
    2. 4.1.1.2. Imports, 2018-2024
    3. 4.1.1.3. Exports, 2018-2024
    4. 4.1.1.4. Market size, 2018-2023
2. 4.2. Market Trends and Factors
5. Production
1. 5.1. Production in Eastern Africa
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in Eastern Africa in kind, 2018-2023, t
2. 5.2. Global production by Country, 2018-2023
  1. 5.2.1. Annual dynamics of production by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023, t
  2. 5.2.2. Dynamics of production structure by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023
  3. 5.2.3. Annual dynamics of production by country in kind, 2018-2023, t
  4. 5.2.4. Structure of production by countries in kind, 2018-2023
  5. 5.2.5. Dynamics of peoduction structure by countries in kind, 2018-2023
6. Imports
1. 6.1. Imports (Direct Data*)
  1. 6.1.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 6.1.2. Imports in kind, t
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to British Indian Ocean Territory in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to British Indian Ocean Territory by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 6.1.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.1.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to British Indian Ocean Territory in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to British Indian Ocean Territory by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 6.1.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.1.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 6.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to British Indian Ocean Territory, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to British Indian Ocean Territory by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
2. 6.2. Imports (Mirror Data)
  1. 6.2.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 6.2.2. Imports in kind, t
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to British Indian Ocean Territory in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to British Indian Ocean Territory by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 6.2.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.2.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to British Indian Ocean Territory in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to British Indian Ocean Territory by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 6.2.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.2.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 6.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to British Indian Ocean Territory, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to British Indian Ocean Territory by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
7. Exports
1. 7.1. Exports (Direct Data*)
  1. 7.1.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 7.1.2. Exports in kind, t
    1. 7.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from British Indian Ocean Territory in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from British Indian Ocean Territory by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 7.1.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.1.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from British Indian Ocean Territory in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from British Indian Ocean Territory by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 7.1.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.1.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 7.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from British Indian Ocean Territory, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from British Indian Ocean Territory by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
2. 7.2. Exports (Mirror Data)
  1. 7.2.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 7.2.2. Exports in kind, t
    1. 7.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from British Indian Ocean Territory in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from British Indian Ocean Territory by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 7.2.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.2.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from British Indian Ocean Territory in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from British Indian Ocean Territory by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 7.2.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.2.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 7.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from British Indian Ocean Territory, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from British Indian Ocean Territory by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
8. Trade balance
1. 8.1. Trade balance (Direct Data)
  1. 8.1.1. In kind, t
  2. 8.1.2. In value, K $ US
2. 8.2. Trade balance (Mirror Data)
  1. 8.2.1. In kind, t
  2. 8.2.2. In value, K $ US
9. Top buying and selling countries, 2018-2024
1. 9.1. Direct Data
  1. 9.1.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.1.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers
2. 9.2. Mirror Data
  1. 9.2.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.2.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers

Production palm kernel or babassu oil and fractions in Eastern Africa

In kind, 2017-2020, t

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

In 2020, Eastern Africa produced 7 057 tonnes of palm kernel or babassu oil and fractions, marking a 10.6% decrease from the previous year. Looking at the broader period from 2017 to 2020, production fell by 9.7%, which translates to an average annual decline of 3.3%. The highest production level was recorded in 2019 at 7 898 tonnes, with that year also seeing the largest increase of 2.3%.

Annual dynamics of production in Eastern Africa in kind, 2017-2020, t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(1.2%)	2.3%	(10.6%)	(3.3%)

Source: SHEV.io

Exports palm kernel or babassu oil and fractions from Eastern Africa

Exports in kind, t

Market performance showed noticeable fluctuations during this period. From 2017 to 2020, the difference between the peak and trough was 3.1-fold. In 2020, cross-border shipments of palm kernel or babassu oil and fractions from Eastern Africa reached 118 tonnes, representing a 62.3% drop from 2019. The largest increase occurred in 2019, at 19.6%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(28.5%)	19.6%	(62.3%)	(31.5%)

Source: SHEV.io

Between 2017 and 2020, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Africa were the primary destinations for exports in kind of palm kernel or babassu oil and fractions from Eastern Africa, together accounting for 36.8% of total flows.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, K $ US

Exports of palm kernel or babassu oil and fractions from Eastern Africa declined for the third consecutive year. In 2020, exports stood at 135 thousand US dollars, a decrease of 51.9% compared to 2019. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, exports fell by 77.9%, with a compound annual growth rate of -39.5%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(30.8%)	(33.5%)	(51.9%)	(39.5%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, India (19.2% of exports in value terms), the Democratic Republic of the Congo (15.9%), and South Africa (10.9%) formed the main group of destinations for exports in value terms of palm kernel or babassu oil and fractions from Eastern Africa, with a combined share of 46.0% of total flows.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports palm kernel or babassu oil and fractions to Eastern Africa

Imports in kind, t

In 2020, Eastern Africa imported 19 526 tonnes of palm kernel or babassu oil and fractions, which is 1.3% higher than in 2019. Between 2017 and 2020, imports decreased by 7.8%, equating to an average annual decline of 2.7%. The lowest import volume was recorded in 2019 at 19 276 tonnes, while the highest was in 2018 at 30 216 tonnes. The largest decline occurred in 2019 at 36.2%, and the largest increase was in 2018 at 42.6%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	42.6%	(36.2%)	1.3%	(2.7%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, Indonesia concentrated most of the imports in kind, accounting for 79.0% of total flows, with a fragmented tail of other markets.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, K $ US

In 2020, Eastern Africa imported 16 387 thousand US dollars worth of palm kernel or babassu oil and fractions, reflecting a significant gain of 16.4% compared to the previous year. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, imports decreased by 38.7%, with a compound annual growth rate of -15.0%. The minimum value was recorded in 2019 at 14 081 thousand US dollars, while the maximum was in 2018 at 27 871 thousand US dollars. The largest decline occurred in 2019 at 49.5%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	4.3%	(49.5%)	16.4%	(15.0%)

Source: SHEV.io

Between 2017 and 2020, the geographical pattern of imports in value terms was characterized by a strong dominance of Indonesia, whose share reached 77.7% of total flows, while other partners held relatively minor shares.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io