Soybean oilcake market in Northern Africa

Earlier Report Observations

The soybean oilcake market in Northern Africa contracted from over 6 million tons in 2018 to 4.5 million tons in 2023. The most pronounced drop occurred in 2021, when market volume fell by 18% to 4.5 million tons, followed by a modest recovery in 2022 to 4.8 million tons before declining again to 4.5 million tons in 2023.

This decline was driven by a sharp reduction in domestic production, which decreased from 3.8 million tons in 2020 to 2.2 million tons in 2023, despite a rebound in imports in recent years. Imports, which stood at 2.9 million tons in 2018, fell to 0.9 million tons in 2021 before rising to 2.3 million tons in 2023.

By 2024, global factors such as record production in South America, Argentina's catastrophic harvest in 2023, and increasing biofuel demand were shaping market dynamics, influencing worldwide prices and availability of oilcake, which in turn affected import flows and production incentives in the region.

Production soybean oilcake in Northern Africa

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of soybean oilcake, 2017-2020

World map of production of soybean oilcake, 2017-2020

Northern Africa's soybean oilcake production has increased for the third year in a row. In 2020, the region produced 3 805 K t of soybean oilcake, marking a modest 8.5% rise compared to 2019. Looking at the broader period from 2017 to 2020, production grew by 81.4%, which translates to an average annual increase of 22.0%.

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

Exports soybean oilcake from Northern Africa

Exports in kind, K t

The data shows irregular changes, pointing to a volatile market environment. In 2019, exports hit their lowest point at 0.3 K t, with a sharp decline of 95.5% that year. By 2020, foreign soybean oilcake supplies from Northern Africa surged to 67 K t, representing a dramatic increase of 25,866.6% from the previous year. The difference between the peak in 2020 and the trough in 2019 was 260-fold.

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

From 2017 to 2020, the primary buyers of soybean oilcake from Northern Africa were Syria, Lebanon, and Romania. Syria accounted for 45.5% of exports in kind, Lebanon for 30.0%, and Romania for 16.6%. Together, these three countries made up 92.1% of total exports in kind.

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

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

Exports in value, M $ US

The market displayed an unstable trend over this period. In 2019, exports reached their minimum at 0.1 M $ US, with the largest decline of 95.7% occurring that year. By 2020, soybean oilcake exports from Northern Africa totaled 28 M $ US, a massive increase of 25,363.0% compared to 2019. The shift from the low in 2019 to the high in 2020 was 255-fold.

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

Between 2017 and 2020, Syria, Lebanon, and Romania were the main markets for exports in value terms. Syria held 45.4% of exports in value, Lebanon 30.3%, and Romania 16.6%. Combined, these three countries represented 92.3% of total export flows.

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

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

Imports soybean oilcake to Northern Africa

Imports in kind, K t

Soybean oilcake imports into Northern Africa have declined for the third consecutive year. In 2020, the region imported 1 796 K t of soybean oilcake, which is 25.8% lower than in 2019. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, imports decreased by 43.8%, averaging an annual decline of 17.5%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Argentina was the clear leader in soybean oilcake imports to Northern Africa, accounting for 78.9% of total flows in kind. Other countries each held significantly smaller shares.

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

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

Imports in value, M $ US

Northern Africa's soybean oilcake imports have fallen for the third year in a row. In 2020, imports amounted to 626 M $ US, a decrease of 23.3% from 2019. Between 2017 and 2020, imports dropped by 47.9%, with an average annual decline of 19.5%.

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

Over the 2017–2020 period, Argentina remained the dominant partner for soybean oilcake imports in value terms to Northern Africa, with a share of 77.8% of total flows. Other markets contributed much smaller portions, forming a long tail.

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

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