Malaysian Palm Oil Exports Performance to Sub-Saharan Africa Region
(January – May 2023)
A Review on MPO Export Performance
North Africa
During the review period of January – May 2023, exports of Malaysian palm oil export to North Africa recorded a slight decrease of 7,267 MT or by 2.33% compared to the same period of 2022. The decline in import was mainly due to lower imports by Egypt, Sudan and Algeria.
| COUNTRY | Jan – May 2023 | Jan – May 2022 | Diff (Vol) | Diff (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Egypt | 149,090 | 159,539 | -10,449 | -6.55 |
| 2 | Djibouti | 104,683 | 99,497 | 5,186 | 5.21 |
| 3 | Somalia | 30,272 | 26,858 | 3,414 | 12.71 |
| 4 | Morocco | 7,702 | 454 | 7,248 | – |
| 5 | Algeria | 4,859 | 10,837 | -5,978 | -55.16 |
| 6 | Eritrea | 3,065 | 0 | 3,065 | – |
| 7 | Sudan | 1,743 | 10,569 | -8,826 | -83.51 |
| 8 | Ethiopia | 1,591 | 3,172 | -1,581 | -49.84 |
| 9 | Tunisia | 564 | 106 | 458 | 432.08 |
| 10 | Libya | 530 | 334 | 196 | 58.68 |
| Total | 304,098 | 311,365 | -7,267 | -2.33 |
The decline in imports of MPO by Egypt was due to the lower overall import of oils and fats dropped which fell by 10.6% as the country increased its sunflower imports which has been flooded the market from Russia[1]. In addition, Egypt’s production and area harvested of soybeans and sunflower are likely to increase in MY 2023/24 in response to high prices.
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 which accounted for 88% of the total Malaysian palm oil going into the North African market.
Break down of MPO into North Africa Market
| PRODUCT | Jan – May 2023 | Jan – May 2022 | Diff (MT) | Diff (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crude Palm Oil | 7,500 | 0 | 7,500 | |
| RBD PO | 77,833 | 60,224 | 17,610 | 29.24% |
| RBD PL | 100,600 | 145,195 | -44,595 | -30.71% |
| RBD PS | 18,529 | 24,991 | -6,462 | -25.86% |
| Cooking Oil | 89,446 | 66,369 | 23,077 | 34.77% |
| PFAD | 2,690 | 2,001 | 689 | 34.45% |
| RSPO Certified PO (RBD PO & RBD PL) | 3,800 | 8,781 | -4,982 | -56.73% |
| Others | 3,700 | 3,804 | -104 | -2.74% |
| Total | 304,097 | 311,365 | -7,268 | -2.33% |
Despite being the most imported palm oil fraction, RBD Palm olein has recorded 30.71% drop. Slowdown in Egypt imports has reflected in the reduction of RBD palm olein imports in the North Africa market.
Sub-Sahara Africa
Malaysian palm oil imports by countries in the Sub Sahara Africa region during Jan – May 2023 review period has already exceeded 1 million MT which is 50.73% higher than the volume recorded in the corresponding period of 2022. Kenya retains its position as the leading importer of Malaysian palm oil in SSA region with a volume of 325,658 MT or 2.54% higher compared to the same period of 2022. There were also other countries which showed impressive increases in MPO imports such as Nigeria which recorded a volume of 136,306 MT, an increase of 115,610 MT or by 558.6% compared to the same period of 2022. This was mainly due to the lower than expected production in Nigeria and higher demand especially for Crude Palm Oil.
Most of the other countries in this market have also recorded import growth in 2023 with the exception of South Africa and Angola. Higher uptake of Malaysian palm oil in these markets were due to higher demand for CPO from Malaysia as Indonesia’s export restriction curbed supplies from Indonesia. .
Table 1: Top Importers of Malaysian Palm Oil from Sub-Saharan Africa (MT)
| COUNTRY | Jan – May 2023 | Jan – May 2022 | Diff (Vol) | Diff (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kenya | 325,658 | 317,589 | 8,069 | 2.54 |
| 2 | Tanzania | 152,597 | 107,453 | 45,144 | 42.01 |
| 3 | Nigeria | 136,306 | 20,696 | 115,610 | 558.61 |
| 4 | Togo | 113,256 | 44,332 | 68,924 | 155.47 |
| 5 | Mozambique | 87,304 | 82,542 | 4,762 | 5.77 |
| 6 | Benin | 85,157 | 28,935 | 56,222 | 194.30 |
| 7 | Senegal | 81,831 | 29,853 | 51,978 | 174.11 |
| 8 | South Africa | 54,397 | 61,118 | -6,721 | -11.00 |
| 9 | Mauritania | 45,331 | 12,269 | 33,062 | 269.48 |
| 10 | Madagascar | 43,444 | 42,841 | 603 | 1.41 |
| 11 | Ghana | 37,314 | 4,058 | 33,256 | 819.52 |
| 12 | Cote D’Ivoire | 21,373 | 3,649 | 17,724 | 485.72 |
| 13 | Guinea | 17,029 | 13,807 | 3,222 | 23.34 |
| 14 | Angola | 14,144 | 42,650 | -28,506 | -66.84 |
| 15 | Congo Dem. Rep. | 13,294 | 12,751 | 543 | 4.26 |
| 16 | Gambia | 12,530 | 3,574 | 8,956 | 250.59 |
| 17 | Liberia | 5,488 | 1,823 | 3,665 | 201.04 |
| 18 | Cameroon | 5,047 | 4,382 | 665 | 15.18 |
| 19 | Niger | 4,429 | 74 | 4,355 | 5,885.14 |
| 20 | Gabon | 1,826 | 119 | 1,707 | 1,434.45 |
| 21 | Mauritius | 1,510 | 911 | 599 | 65.75 |
| Other countries | 3,525 | 2,356 | 1,169 | 49.62 | |
| Total | 1,262,791 | 837,782 | 425,008 | 50.73 | |
| 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 83% of the total palm oil imported by the region. CPL is the most imported palm oil component with market share of 41%. CPL is the most imported palm oil component as the abolishment of import duty on crude products in 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 – May 2023 | Jan – May 2022 | Diff (MT) | Diff (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPO | 232,533 | 198,303 | 34,231 | 17% |
| CPL | 511,187 | 178,112 | 333,075 | 187% |
| RBDPO | 97,516 | 29,751 | 67,765 | 228% |
| RBD PL | 24,829 | 158,798 | -133,969 | -84% |
| RBD PS | 30,266 | 47,151 | -16,885 | -36% |
| Cooking Oil | 303,533 | 165,459 | 138,074 | 83% |
| RSPO Certified Palm Oil (RBD PO AND RBD PL) | 2,277 | 1,756 | 521 | 30% |
| PFAD | 55,822 | 53,928 | 1,894 | 4% |
| Others | 4,828 | 4,523 | 305 | 7% |
| 1,262,791 | 837,782 | 425,009 | 51% | |
| 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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