Market research

Sunflower, safflower or cottonseed oil and fractions market in South Africa

$Sunflower, safflower or cottonseed oil and fractions market in South Africa$

Release date: Mar 28, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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File format: docx, xlsx

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Earlier Report Observations

The market volume for sunflower, safflower, and cottonseed oil in South Africa expanded from 398.1 thousand t in 2018 to 495.0 thousand t in 2020. This growth aligned with rising consumer preference for sunflower oil as a healthy, non-transgenic fat with low saturated fat levels. Simultaneously, industry efforts to enhance oil content in sunflower cultivars, supported by the Bureau for Food & Agricultural Policy (BFAP), improved the competitiveness of crushing operations, encouraging production.

Market volume sharply contracted to 318.0 thousand t in 2021, primarily due to a steep drop in imports. A recovery to 381.9 thousand t followed in 2022, with stabilization around 372.8 thousand t in 2023. This volatility was influenced by global supply disruptions stemming from the Russia-Ukraine war, as South Africa relies on sunflower seed imports from Eastern Europe. High market concentration among processors also raised concerns about opportunistic price increases, affecting availability and costs.

By 2025, South Africa placed greater emphasis on domestic processing to strengthen its role as a leading sunflower oil exporter. New labelling legislation requiring producers to specify the type of oil used on packaging altered consumer information rules. While sunflower seed delivery monitoring indicated stable domestic supply conditions, global factors such as recovering sunflower production continued to influence import availability.

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, 2018-2025
    3. 4.1.1.3. Exports, 2018-2025
    4. 4.1.1.4. Market size, 2018-2023
2. 4.2. Market Trends and Factors
5. Production
1. 5.1. Production in South Africa
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in South Africa in kind, 2018-2023, K t
  2. 5.1.2. Annual dynamics of production in South Africa in value, 2018-2023, $ US
2. 5.2. Global production by Country, 2018-2023
  1. 5.2.1. Annual dynamics of production by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023, K 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, K 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, K t
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to South Africa in kind, 2018-2025, K t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to South Africa by countries, 2018-2025, K t
    3. 6.1.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2025
  3. 6.1.3. Imports in value, M $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to South Africa in value, 2018-2025, M $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to South Africa by countries, 2018-2025, M $ US
    3. 6.1.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2025
  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 South Africa, 2018-2025, $ US/t
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to South Africa by countries, 2018-2025, $ US/t
2. 6.2. Imports (Mirror Data)
  1. 6.2.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 6.2.2. Imports in kind, K t
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to South Africa in kind, 2018-2025, K t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to South Africa by countries, 2018-2025, K t
    3. 6.2.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2025
  3. 6.2.3. Imports in value, M $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to South Africa in value, 2018-2025, M $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to South Africa by countries, 2018-2025, M $ US
    3. 6.2.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2025
  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 South Africa, 2018-2025, $ US/t
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to South Africa by countries, 2018-2025, $ US/t
7. Exports
1. 7.1. Exports (Direct Data)
  1. 7.1.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 7.1.2. Exports in kind, K t
    1. 7.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from South Africa in kind, 2018-2025, K t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from South Africa by countries, 2018-2025, K t
    3. 7.1.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2025
  3. 7.1.3. Exports in value, M $ US
    1. 7.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from South Africa in value, 2018-2025, M $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from South Africa by countries, 2018-2025, M $ US
    3. 7.1.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2025
  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 South Africa, 2018-2025, $ US/t
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from South Africa by countries, 2018-2025, $ US/t
2. 7.2. Exports (Mirror Data)
  1. 7.2.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 7.2.2. Exports in kind, K t
    1. 7.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from South Africa in kind, 2018-2025, K t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from South Africa by countries, 2018-2025, K t
    3. 7.2.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2025
  3. 7.2.3. Exports in value, M $ US
    1. 7.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from South Africa in value, 2018-2025, M $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from South Africa by countries, 2018-2025, M $ US
    3. 7.2.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2025
  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 South Africa, 2018-2025, $ US/t
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from South Africa by countries, 2018-2025, $ US/t
8. Trade balance
1. 8.1. Trade balance (Direct Data)
  1. 8.1.1. In kind, K t
  2. 8.1.2. In value, M $ US
2. 8.2. Trade balance (Mirror Data)
  1. 8.2.1. In kind, K t
  2. 8.2.2. In value, M $ US
9. Top buying and selling countries, 2018-2025
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 sunflower, safflower or cottonseed oil and fractions in South Africa

In kind, 2018-2021, K t

From 2018 to 2021, South Africa ranked as the 17th largest global producer of sunflower, safflower, or cottonseed oil and fractions.

Top producers of sunflower, safflower or cottonseed oil and fractions, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of sunflower, safflower or cottonseed oil and fractions, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

South Africa's production of sunflower, safflower, or cottonseed oil and fractions rose for the second year in a row. In 2021, the country produced 308.7 K t, marking a modest 3.2% increase from 2020. Production hit its lowest point in 2019 at 234.5 K t, with the largest decline that year of 23.4%. The most significant growth occurred in 2020, with a 27.5% surge.

Annual dynamics of production in South Africa in kind, 2018-2021, K t

Parameter		2019	2020	2021	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(23.4%)	27.5%	3.2%	0.3%

Source: SHEV.io

Exports sunflower, safflower or cottonseed oil and fractions from South Africa

Exports in kind, K t

Exports of sunflower, safflower, or cottonseed oil and fractions from South Africa fell for the second consecutive year. In 2021, exports dropped to 60.9 K t, a sharp 12.4% decrease from the previous year. Over the 2018-2021 period, exports declined by 7.6%, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of -2.6%. The peak was in 2019 at 74.6 K t, which also saw the largest increase of 13.3%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from South Africa in kind, 2018-2021, K t

Parameter		2019	2020	2021	CAGR
1	Change from last year	13.3%	(6.9%)	(12.4%)	(2.6%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2018 to 2021, Namibia (33.1% of exports in kind), Botswana (31.3%), and Lesotho (13.0%) were the primary destinations for South Africa's exports of sunflower, safflower, or cottonseed oil and fractions, collectively accounting for 77.4% of total flows.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's exports from South Africa in kind, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, M $ US

South Africa's exports of sunflower, safflower, or cottonseed oil and fractions in value terms grew for the third straight year. In 2021, exports reached 101.9 M $ US, a sharp 27.2% rise from 2020. Over the 2018-2021 span, exports increased by 31.7%, with a CAGR of 9.6%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from South Africa in value, 2018-2021, M $ US

Parameter		2019	2020	2021	CAGR
1	Change from last year	3.2%	0.3%	27.2%	9.6%

Source: SHEV.io

Between 2018 and 2021, Namibia (34.5% of exports in value terms), Botswana (32.2%), and Lesotho (14.0%) together made up 80.8% of total export value, solidifying their position as the main markets for South Africa's sunflower, safflower, or cottonseed oil and fractions.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's exports from South Africa in value, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

Imports sunflower, safflower or cottonseed oil and fractions to South Africa

Imports in kind, K t

The import market displayed volatility during the observed period. Imports bottomed out in 2021 at 70.1 K t, a 73.6% drop from 2020, and peaked in 2020 at 265.4 K t, resulting in a 3.8-fold difference between these years. The largest increase was recorded in 2019 at 58.6%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to South Africa in kind, 2018-2021, K t

Parameter		2019	2020	2021	CAGR
1	Change from last year	58.6%	6.0%	(73.6%)	(23.7%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2018 to 2021, Bulgaria (46.8% of imports in kind), Romania (22.4%), and Argentina (9.9%) were the leading sources for South Africa's imports of sunflower, safflower, or cottonseed oil and fractions, with a combined share of 79.1% of total flows.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to South Africa in kind, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, M $ US

Foreign supplies of sunflower, safflower, or cottonseed oil and fractions to South Africa in value terms declined for the second year in a row. In 2021, imports fell to 90.4 M $ US, a 45.6% year-on-year decrease. Over the 2018-2021 period, imports dropped by 26.4%, with a CAGR of -9.7%. The highest value was in 2019 at 177.4 M $ US, which also saw the largest increase of 44.4%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to South Africa in value, 2018-2021, M $ US

Parameter		2019	2020	2021	CAGR
1	Change from last year	44.4%	(6.3%)	(45.6%)	(9.7%)

Source: SHEV.io

In the 2018-2021 timeframe, Bulgaria (51.6% of imports in value terms), Romania (17.8%), and Argentina (9.0%) accounted for the largest share of imports, together comprising 78.4% of total flows.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to South Africa in value, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io