Indonesia was the largest supplier to the main importing countries.
What this market covers
Sustainable palm oil is palm oil grown and traced under certification schemes that limit deforestation and protect workers. Buyers are food makers, cosmetic firms, biofuel producers and retailers.
Typical segments
- Certified segregated oil
- Mass balance oil
- Certified kernel oil
- Traceable specialty fractions
Top importing countries
Customs import value under HS 151110 in each country's latest reported year (in brackets), USD million.
GCC and Africa
Import value by country group, latest reported year per country, USD million.
Source: UN Comtrade
Why this market is moving now
- Import value for the 11 countries reporting every year fell 28% from 2020 to 2025.
- EU exports of the matching CN code to the region rose 194% from 2020 to 2025.
- Demand is concentrated: one country took a large share of the region's reported imports.
About the data
Figures are customs import values (CIF, US dollars) that 19 countries reported to UN Comtrade for HS code 151110 (Crude palm oil). Each country's latest reported year is used: Algeria 2024, Bahrain 2024, Cote d'Ivoire 2025, Egypt 2025, Ethiopia 2023, Ghana 2025, Israel 2025, Jordan 2024, Kenya 2025, Kuwait 2025, Morocco 2025, Nigeria 2025, Oman 2025, Qatar 2024, Saudi Arabia 2025, South Africa 2025, Tanzania 2025, Tunisia 2021, United Arab Emirates 2023.
South Africa reports import values FOB (free on board) rather than CIF.
Supplier figures add up the partner breakdown that the largest importing countries reported for their latest year. Partner areas that the reporters did not specify are left out of the list.
EU export figures are Eurostat Comext values in euros for CN code 15111090 (Crude palm oil), the code used on the EU page for this market. Shares, changes and per-kilogram values are calculated from these figures. No figure on this page is a forecast.
Key figures
Each figure names the source it came from. Open the source list below to read the quoted line.
| Figure | Value | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Customs data from 19 Middle East and Africa countries shows imports of $1.08 billion under HS code 151110 (Crude palm oil) in their latest year with data (2025 for 12 countries, 2024 for 4, 2023 for 2 and 2021 for 1). | 1.08 USD billion | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| Imports under HS 151110 by the 11 countries that reported every year from 2020 to 2025 were down 28% in 2025 compared with 2020, from $1.28 billion to $918.5 million, calculated from UN Comtrade values. | -28 % since 2020 | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| Saudi Arabia was the largest importer among the countries covered, with $548.1 million in 2025, or 51% of the total. | 548.1 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| Kenya followed with $136.4 million in 2025. | 136.4 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The six GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries accounted for $565.8 million, or 52% of the total, in their latest reported years. | 565.8 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The 11 African countries with data accounted for $517.0 million, or 48% of the total. | 517.0 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| Indonesia was the largest supplier to the 4 largest importing countries in the region, which took 81% of its reported imports, with $394.1 million, or 45% of their imports under HS 151110 (partner data for each country's latest year). | 394.1 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| EU exports of CN 15111090 (Crude palm oil) to the 7 Middle East and Africa countries covered were worth €49 thousand in 2025. | 49 EUR thousand | 2025 | Eurostat |
| EU exports of CN 15111090 to these countries were up 194% in 2025 compared with 2020, when they were €17 thousand, calculated from Eurostat values. | +194 % since 2020 | 2025 | Eurostat |
| Saudi Arabia was the largest of these destinations for EU exports of CN 15111090 in 2025, at €41 thousand. | 41 EUR thousand | 2025 | Eurostat |
Sources and method
The figures on this page come from the public sources listed below. Read how we work.
- UN Comtrade: UN Comtrade database, annual imports by HS code (public preview API) (2026-11-06)
Quoted lines
- Figure 1
cmdCode=151110 flowCode=M partnerCode=0 primaryValue: ARE2023=113965; BHR2024=1571; CIV2025=24298403; DZA2024=62247829; EGY2025=691960; ETH2023=48116421; GHA2025=41459721; ISR2025=347000; JOR2024=61425; KEN2025=136393907; KWT2025=4843070; MAR2025=73376100; NGA2025=120066146; OMN2025=583; QAT2024=12751141; SAU2025=548123279; TUN2021=109; TZA2025=9006509; ZAF2025=1375650; sum=1083274791
- Figure 2
cmdCode 151110, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for CIV EGY ISR KEN KWT MAR NGA OMN SAU TZA ZAF: 2020 = 1279364296; 2025 = 918522608; change -28%
- Figure 3
reporterCode 682, period 2025, cmdCode 151110, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, primaryValue 548123279; share of 1083274791 = 51%
- Figure 4
reporterCode 404, period 2025, cmdCode 151110, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, primaryValue 136393907 (shown as 136.4 USD million)
- Figure 5
cmdCode 151110, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for ARE BHR KWT OMN QAT SAU = 565833609; share 52%
- Figure 6
cmdCode 151110, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for CIV DZA EGY ETH GHA KEN MAR NGA TUN TZA ZAF = 517032757; share 48%
- Figure 1
- UN Comtrade: UN Comtrade database, annual imports by HS code (public preview API) (2026-11-06)
Quoted lines
- Figure 7
cmdCode 151110, flowCode M, partnerCode 360, primaryValue summed over reporters = 394144646; world 877959433; share 45%
- Figure 7
- Eurostat: EU trade since 1988 by HS2-4-6 and CN8 (DS-045409) (2026-11-06)
Quoted lines
- Figure 8
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 15111090, flow export, VALUE_IN_EUROS, 2025: GH=135; IL=1824; MA=40; NG=90; QA=5760; SA=41273; ZA=53; sum 49175
- Figure 9
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 15111090, flow export, VALUE_IN_EUROS, sum over the same partners: 2020 = 16730; 2025 = 49175; change +194%
- Figure 10
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 15111090, partner SA, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 41273
- Figure 8
Buyers and suppliers
Who buys
- Packaged food makers
- Cosmetic and soap makers
- Retail brands
Large suppliers to the countries covered
EU exports to the largest destinations in the region, 2025
Eurostat Comext, CN 15111090, EUR million.
What the full report covers
- 01Executive summary
The answer in one page: size, direction and what moves it - 02Market definition and scope
What is in and out of the Middle East and Africa market - 03Market size, 2021 to 2025
Historical series and growth rates - 04Outlook to 2031
Base, low and high scenarios with stated assumptions - 05Rules, policy and deadlines
Regulation and programmes that change demand - 06Drivers and barriers
What accelerates or slows adoption, by customer segment - 07Prices, costs and margins
Unit economics where public data allows - 08Competitive landscape
8 to 12 company profiles with recent moves - 09Opportunities and risks
For new entrants, suppliers and investors - 10Method and sources
Every assumption and source, listed
Included with the full report
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- Method note and assumptions
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Frequently asked questions
How big is the Middle East and Africa sustainable palm oil market?
There is no single official market total. Customs data reported to UN Comtrade shows imports of $1.08 billion under HS code 151110 by 19 countries in the region, using the latest year each one reported.
Which Middle East and Africa countries import the most sustainable palm oil?
Saudi Arabia was the largest importer, followed by Kenya and Nigeria.
Where does the Middle East and Africa import sustainable palm oil from?
Indonesia was the largest supplier to the largest importing countries in the region. Other large suppliers included Malaysia, Liberia and Ghana.
How do GCC and African imports of sustainable palm oil compare?
The GCC countries with data took $565.8 million, or 52% of the total, and the African countries with data took $517.0 million, or 48%, each in its latest reported year.
How much sustainable palm oil does the EU export to the Middle East and Africa?
Eurostat shows EU exports of CN 15111090 to the countries covered of €49 thousand in 2025. Saudi Arabia was the largest destination.
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