Sunflower or safflower oil and fractions market in MENA

Earlier Report Observations

Between 2018 and 2023, the MENA market for sunflower and safflower oil experienced notable shifts in volume. The market size remained relatively stable at around 2.37–2.38 million tons in 2018 and 2019, before growing to nearly 2.5 million tons in 2020. A significant contraction followed, with the volume dropping to 2.17 million tons in 2021 and further declining to 1.92 million tons by 2023.

In 2024, imports into the region rose to 2.69 million tons, while exports reached 370 thousand tons. This period was influenced by a shift in consumer preferences towards healthier oils rich in unsaturated fats, moving away from traditional saturated fats. Concurrently, major global players like ADM launched new high-oleic sunflower oil lines to improve food flavor and shelf life, and Cargill expanded its production of high-oleic canola oil to meet growing foodservice demand. Global sunflower oil prices also rose due to constrained supplies from key producing regions such as the Black Sea and the European Union.

Production sunflower or safflower oil and fractions in MENA

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of sunflower or safflower oil and fractions, 2017-2020

World map of production of sunflower or safflower oil and fractions, 2017-2020

Sunflower or safflower oil and fractions production in the MENA region has declined for the third year in a row. In 2020, the region produced 99.1 K t, marking a moderate decrease of 3.6% from the previous year. Looking at the period from 2017 to 2020, production fell by 25.4%, which translates to an annualized decline of 9.3%.

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

In value, 2017-2020, M $ US

The value of sunflower or safflower oil and fractions production in MENA dropped for the second consecutive year. In 2020, output was valued at 474.3 M $ US, showing a sharp reduction of 25.4% compared to 2019. Between 2017 and 2020, production decreased by 29.3%, equating to an annualized rate of 10.9%. The highest value was recorded in 2018 at 824.8 M $ US, which also saw the largest increase of 22.9%.

Annual dynamics of production in MENA in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Exports sunflower or safflower oil and fractions from MENA

Exports in kind, K t

MENA exported 102 K t of sunflower or safflower oil and fractions in 2020, down by 20.9% from the previous year. From 2017 to 2020, exports decreased by 30.3%, with an annualized rate of 11.3%. The largest increase occurred in 2019, at 9.7%.

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

Between 2017 and 2020, Ethiopia (4.0% of exports in kind), Afghanistan (2.3%), and Rwanda (1.9%) were the top buyers of sunflower or safflower oil and fractions from MENA. However, their combined share was only 8.2% of total exports in kind, indicating a diversified export structure across many countries.

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

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

Exports in value, M $ US

Sunflower or safflower oil and fractions exports from MENA increased for the second consecutive year. In 2020, exports reached 201 M $ US, up 12.7% from 2019. From 2017 to 2020, exports grew by 16.5%, with an annualized rate of 5.2%. The lowest value was recorded in 2018 at 172 M $ US, which also saw the largest decline of 0.3%.

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

Data from 2017 to 2020 show that exports in value terms of sunflower or safflower oil and fractions from MENA were not concentrated on a few key destinations. Ethiopia (3.1% of exports in value terms), Afghanistan (3.1%), and Rwanda (1.6%) together accounted for just 7.8% of total flows, reflecting a broad distribution.

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

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

Imports sunflower or safflower oil and fractions to MENA

Imports in kind, K t

MENA's imports of sunflower or safflower oil and fractions increased for the third consecutive year. In 2020, imports stood at 2 498 K t, up 3.7% from the previous year. Over the period 2017-2020, imports rose by 8.7%, with a compound annual growth rate of 2.8%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Ukraine (31.3% of imports in kind), Russia (25.6%), and Turkey (21.8%) were the main suppliers of sunflower or safflower oil and fractions to MENA. Together, they comprised 78.7% of total imports in kind.

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

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

Imports in value, M $ US

MENA imported 2 245 M $ US of sunflower or safflower oil and fractions in 2020, indicating a gain of 14.6% compared to 2019. Between 2017 and 2020, imports increased by 8.2%, equating to an annualized rate of 2.7%. The minimum value was recorded in 2019 at 1 960 M $ US, which also saw the largest decline of 6.5%.

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

In 2017–2020, Ukraine (29.1% of imports in value terms), Russia (24.7%), and Turkey (23.4%) were the main sources in the geographical breakdown of imports in value terms of sunflower or safflower oil and fractions to MENA, with a combined share of 77.2% of total flows.

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

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