Malaysian Palm Oil Exports Performance to Sub-Saharan Africa Region
(January – Jul 2023)
A Review on MPO Export Performance
North Africa
Malaysian palm oil export to North Africa during Jan – July declined by 7.5% or 33,359 MT lower compared to the volume recorded in the same period of 2022. The decline was mainly due to lower imports by Egypt (-34%) and Sudan (-504.41%), Algeria and Ethiopia.
| COUNTRY | Jan – July 2023 | Jan – July 2022 | Diff (Vol) | Diff (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Egypt | 175,663 | 235,937 | (60,275) | -34.31% |
| 2 | Djibouti | 163,504 | 141,475 | 22,029 | 13.47% |
| 3 | Somalia | 48,503 | 39,771 | 8,732 | 18.00% |
| 4 | Morocco | 7,789 | 518 | 7,270 | 93.35% |
| 5 | Algeria | 7,300 | 11,033 | (3,733) | -51.14% |
| 6 | Eritrea | 3,065 | 126 | 2,939 | 2341.15% |
| 7 | Ethiopia | 2,712 | 4,116 | (1,404) | -51.77% |
| 8 | Sudan | 1,982 | 11,979 | (9,997) | -504.41% |
| 9 | Libya | 921 | 406 | 515 | 55.89% |
| 10 | Tunisia | 585 | 106 | 479 | 450.22% |
| 11 | South Sudan | 85 | – | 85 | 100.00% |
| 412,108 | 445,467 | (33,359) | -7.49% |
Despite the increase in imports by Djibouti, Somalia and Morocco imports increased by 13.47%, 18% and 93.35%, the volume was not able to offset the overall decline in imports of Malaysian palm by the region. Imports of Malaysian palm oil by Egypt declined as they have increased in their imports of sunflower and soybean oil as the cost of both products are more competitive as compared with palm olein during the reviewed period.
Breakdown of Malaysian Palm Oil Export
RBD palm olein is the most imported palm oil fraction but recorded a decline of 13.63% while for RBD PO, imports declined by 21.52%. Higher imports of soybean and sunflower oil by Egypt were reflected in the reduction of RBD palm olein imports in the North Africa market.
Break down of MPO into North Africa Market
| PRODUCTS | Jan – July 2023 | Jan – July 2022 | Diff (MT) | Diff (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPO | 7,500 | – | 7,500 | |
| CPL | 3,454 | – | 3,454 | |
| RBD PO | 79,193 | 100,904 | (21,711) | -21.52% |
| RBDPL | 163,401 | 189,179 | (25,778) | -13.63% |
| Cooking Oil | 125,528 | 98,096 | 27,432 | 27.96% |
| RBD PS | 18,793 | 38,718 | (19,925) | -51.46% |
| RSPO Palm Products (RBD PO & RBD PL) | 5,801 | 11,430 | (5,629) | -49.25% |
| Others | 8,438 | 7,140 | 1,298 | 18.18% |
| 412,108 | 445,467 | (33,359) | -7.49% |
RBD PL, Cooking Oil and RBD PO were three major components of Malaysian palm oil imported by the region and these three products accounted for 89% of the total Malaysian palm oil going into the North Africa market. The balance of 9% imported by the region comprised of RBD Palm stearin (6%), PFAD (1%) and others (1%). 7,500 MT or 3% of CPO was imported by Morocco and 3,454 MT of CPL was imported by Djibouti during this reviewed period. 1% or 5,801MT of RSPO Certified palm oil imported by the region during Jan – July 2023.
Figure 2: Breakdown of MPO Exports (Jan – July 2023)
Sub-Sahara Africa
Malaysian palm oil exported to Sub Sahara Africa markets during Jan – June 2023 exceeded 1.5 million MT which is a significant increase of 45.95% or 549,643MT higher than the volume recorded in 2022. Kenya retains its positon as the leading importer of Malaysian palm oil in SSA with a volume of 524,461 MT of which accounted for 30% of the total MPO volume exported to the region. The volume was 18.82% higher that the volume recorded in 2022.
Most of other countries also recorded an outstanding import growth in 2023 with the exception of imports by Angola (-68.09%), South Africa (- 8.48%) and Mozambique (-1.98%) which recorded some declines. Higher uptake of Malaysian palm oil in some markets were due to higher demand for CPO and CPL.
Table 1: Top Importers of Malaysian Palm Oil from Sub-Saharan Africa (MT)
| COUNTRY | Jan – July 2023 | Jan – July 2022 | Diff (Vol) | Diff (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kenya | 524,461 | 441,402 | 83,059 | 18.82% |
| 2 | Tanzania | 229,209 | 146,222 | 82,987 | 56.75% |
| 3 | Nigeria | 155,851 | 44,653 | 111,198 | 249.03% |
| 4 | Togo | 141,289 | 72,340 | 68,949 | 95.31% |
| 5 | Benin | 116,721 | 42,162 | 74,559 | 176.84% |
| 6 | Mozambique | 116,446 | 118,794 | (2,348) | -1.98% |
| 7 | Senegal | 99,107 | 41,388 | 57,719 | 139.46% |
| 8 | Mauritania | 69,494 | 23,099 | 46,395 | 200.86% |
| 9 | South Africa | 66,931 | 73,136 | (6,205) | -8.48% |
| 10 | Ghana | 49,225 | 27,465 | 21,760 | 79.23% |
| 11 | Madagascar | 45,137 | 43,224 | 1,913 | 4.43% |
| 12 | Cote D’Ivoire | 29,380 | 6,132 | 23,247 | 379.08% |
| 13 | Congo Dem. Rep. | 20,908 | 17,641 | 3,267 | 18.52% |
| 14 | Angola | 20,051 | 62,836 | ( 42,785) | -68.09% |
| 15 | Guinea | 18,245 | 15,488 | 2,757 | 17.80% |
| 16 | Gambia | 14,499 | 6,564 | 7,936 | 120.91% |
| 17 | Cameroon | 8,412 | 5,173 | 3,240 | 62.63% |
| 18 | Liberia | 6,393 | 2,446 | 3,947 | 161.33% |
| 19 | Niger | 4,701 | 890 | 3,811 | 428.36% |
| 20 | Gabon | 2,033 | 119 | 1,915 | 1615.48% |
| 21 | Mauritius | 1,883 | 1,477 | 406 | 27.52% |
| 22 | Burkina Faso | 1,143 | – | 1,143 | 1,143 |
| 23 | Sierra Leone | 1,127 | 992 | 135 | 13.58% |
| Others | 3,158 | 2,523 | 635 | 25.17% | |
| 1,745,806 | 1,196,163 | 549,643 | 45.95% | ||
| Source: MPOB | |||||
Crude palm oil (CPO, crude palm olein (CPL), and cooking oil are the main palm oil products components going into the region. These three, accounted for 85% of the total palm oil imported by the region. CPL is the most imported palm oil component with market share of 39%. Lower crude oil import tax and the abolishment of import duty on crude products in market such as Tanzania has encouraged more imports of CPO and CPL by the country.
Cooking oil accounted for 453,814 MT or 26% of the total palm oil imported by the region. Benin, Togo, Mauritania, Tanzania, , Kenya and Senegal are among the major importers of cooking oil in Africa.
Table 2: Breakdown of MPO Exports Products to Sub-Saharan Africa (MT)
| PRODUCT | Jan – July 2023 | Jan – July 2022 | Diff (MT) | Diff (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPO | 347,794 | 294,580 | 53,214 | 18.06% |
| CPL | 672,685 | 284,186 | 388,499 | 136.71% |
| RBD PO | 26,733 | 37,705 | (10,973) | -29.10% |
| RBD PL | 122,451 | 188,759 | (66,308) | -35.13% |
| RBD PS | 39,555 | 53,879 | (14,324) | -26.59% |
| Cooking Oil | 453,814 | 261,669 | 192,145 | 73.43% |
| PFAD | 71,343 | 67,702 | 3,641 | 5.38% |
| RSPO Products (RBD PO &RBD PL) | 3,574 | 2,653 | 921 | 34.70% |
| Others | 7,859 | 5,030 | 2,829 | 56.24% |
| 1,745,806 | 1,196,163 | 549,643 | 45.95% | |
| Source: MPOB | ||||
For more info please contact Mrs. Fatimah
Email : fatimah@mpoc.org.my
[1] https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/egypt-russia-affordable-cooking-oil-market-prices-soar
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