Malaysian Palm Oil Exports Performance to Sub-Saharan Africa Region
(January – June 2023)
A Review on MPO Export Performance
North Africa
From January – June 2023, Malaysian palm oil export to North Africa region were recorded at 339,444 MT which was a 13.8% decline or by 54,544 MT lower compared to the same period of 2022. The decline in imports was mainly due to lower imports particularly by Egypt, Sudan and Djibouti as a result of the narrowing price discount between palm oil and soybean oil especially in the months of May and June.
| COUNTRY | Jan – June 2023 | Jan – June 2022 | Diff (Vol) | Diff (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Egypt | 162,373 | 213,489 | (51,116) | -23.9% |
| 2 | Djibouti | 113,950 | 119,068 | (5,118) | -4.3% |
| 3 | Somalia | 40,162 | 35,286 | 4,876 | 13.8% |
| 4 | Morocco | 7,745 | 518 | 7,227 | 1395.2% |
| 5 | Algeria | 6,521 | 10,965 | (4,444) | -40.5% |
| 6 | Eritrea | 3,065 | 0 | 3,065 | |
| 7 | Ethiopia | 2,517 | 3,653 | (1,136) | -31.1% |
| 8 | Sudan | 1,828 | 10,569 | (8,741) | -82.7% |
| 9 | Libya | 698 | 334 | 364 | 109.0% |
| 10 | Tunisia | 585 | 106 | 479 | 451.9% |
| 339,444 | 393,988 | (54,544) | -13.8% |
Somalia and Morocco imports of Malaysian palm oil increased, the increased volume was not able to offset the overall decline in imports of Malaysian palm by the region. As for Egypt import of oils and fats, it showed an increase by 5.6% contributed mostly by increased in sunflower oil (69%) and soybean oil (17.4%).
Breakdown of Malaysian Palm Oil Export
RBD PL, RBD PO and Cooking Oil were three major components of Malaysian palm oil imported by the region and these three products accounted for 88% 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 during this reviewed period. 1% or 5,801MT of RSPO Certified palm oil imported by the region during Jan – June 2023.
Break down of MPO into North Africa Market
| PRODUCT | Jan – June 2023 | Jan – June 2022 | Diff (MT) | Diff (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crude Palm Oil | 7,500 | – | ||
| RBD PO | 79,129 | 93,312 | -14,183 | -15.2% |
| RBD PL | 112,133 | 171,660 | -59,527 | -34.7% |
| RBD PS | 18,683 | 29,635 | -10,952 | -37.0% |
| Cooking Oil | 108,474 | 84,381 | 24,093 | 28.6% |
| PFAD | 2,690 | 2,001 | 689 | 34.4% |
| RSPO Certified PO (RBD PO & RBD PL) | 5,801 | 8,981 | -3,180 | -35.4% |
| Others | 5,034 | 4,018 | 1,016 | 25.3% |
| 339,444 | 393,988 | -54,544 | -13.8% |
Despite being the most imported palm oil fraction, RBD Palm olein has recorded 34.7% drop which was due to higher imports of soybean and sunflower oil by Egypt and in the North Africa market.
Sub-Sahara Africa
Malaysian palm oil exported to Sub Sahara Africa markets during Jan – June 2023 period was recorded at close to 1.5 million MT, an impressive 52% increase compared to the volume recorded in the same period of 2022. The leading importer is Kenya with a volume of 395,239 MT or 7.96% higher compared to the same period of 2022. Most of other countries have also recorded an import growth in this same period of 2023 with the exception of South Africa and Angola. The main reasons for the higher uptake of Malaysian palm oil in some markets were due to higher demand for CPO and CPL as well as the more competitive price of palm oil especially in the first quarter of 2023.
Table 1: Top Importers of Malaysian Palm Oil from Sub-Saharan Africa (MT)
| COUNTRY | Jan – June 2023 | Jan – June 2022 | Diff (Vol) | Diff (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kenya | 395,239 | 366,086 | 29,153 | 7.96% |
| 2 | Tanzania | 171,874 | 126,409 | 45,465 | 35.97% |
| 3 | Nigeria | 155,398 | 39,712 | 115,686 | 291.31% |
| 4 | Togo | 137,178 | 47,449 | 89,729 | 189.11% |
| 5 | Mozambique | 109,516 | 98,531 | 10,985 | 11.15% |
| 6 | Benin | 100,020 | 35,264 | 64,756 | 183.63% |
| 7 | Senegal | 97,245 | 33,715 | 63,530 | 188.43% |
| 8 | South Africa | 65,636 | 66,959 | -1,323 | -1.98% |
| 9 | Senegal | 58,333 | 18,385 | 39,948 | 217.29% |
| 10 | Ghana | 44,301 | 4,725 | 39,576 | 837.59% |
| 11 | Madagascar | 44,003 | 42,950 | 1,053 | 2.45% |
| 12 | Cote D’Ivoire | 27,692 | 4,832 | 22,860 | 473.10% |
| 13 | Angola | 18,171 | 55,158 | -36,987 | -67.06% |
| 14 | Guinea | 17,918 | 14,186 | 3,732 | 26.31% |
| 15 | Congo Dem. Rep. | 15,695 | 15,148 | 547 | 3.61% |
| 16 | Gambia | 12,823 | 4,360 | 8,463 | 194.11% |
| 17 | Cameroon | 7,622 | 4,777 | 2,845 | 59.56% |
| 18 | Liberia | 6,393 | 1,823 | 4,570 | 250.69% |
| 19 | Niger | 4,553 | 321 | 4,232 | 1318.38% |
| 20 | Gabon | 1,994 | 119 | 1,875 | 1575.63% |
| 21 | Mauritius | 1,628 | 1,273 | 355 | 27.89% |
| Others | 4,357 | 3,112 | 1,245 | 40.00% | |
| 1,498,593 | 985,293 | 513,300 | 52.09% | ||
| Source: MPOB | |||||
Crude palm oil (CPO, crude palm olein (CPL), and cooking oil are the main MPO palm oil products components going into the region. These three, accounted for 84% of the total palm oil imported by the region. CPL is the most imported palm oil component with market share of 40%. The 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 303,533 MT or 24% of the total palm oil imported by the region. Benin, Togo, Mauritania, Tanzania, Cote D’Ivoire, 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 – June 2023 | Jan – June 2022 | Diff (MT) | Diff (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPO | 270,008 | 233,127 | 36,881 | 15.82% |
| CPL | 594,075 | 214,068 | 380,007 | 177.52% |
| RBD PO | 26,581 | 36,389 | -9,808 | -26.95% |
| RBD PL | 110,051 | 171,288 | -61,237 | -35.75% |
| RBD PS | 36,299 | 48,331 | -12,032 | -24.89% |
| Cooking Oil | 392,246 | 219,337 | 172,909 | 78.83% |
| PFAD | 59,313 | 56,141 | 3,172 | 5.65% |
| RSPO Certified PO (RBD PO & RBD PL) | 2,669 | 1,847 | 822 | 44.50% |
| Others | 7,341 | 4,765 | 1,581 | 33.17% |
| 1,498,593 | 985,293 | 513,300 | 52.09% | |
| 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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