Edible oil consumers in Kenya footed a steeper bill in the quarter ended June 2025 after the value of imports of the commodity jumped 6.84 per cent to Sh25.61 billion on higher prices in the international market.
Fresh disclosures show that Kenya imported 183,139 tonnes of assorted edible oils in the quarter to June 2025, a slight increase from 182,209 tonnes in 2024, even though the value rose by about Sh1.64billion.
Sunflower oil.
Photo credit: Shutterstock
“In the quarter under review, total volumes rose slightly from 182,209 tonnes in 2024 to 183,139 tonnes, while total value grew from Sh 23.97 billion in 2024 to Sh25.61 billion, driven by higher global prices and a shift to refined products,” the Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) said.
Palm oil is the dominant edible oil consumed in Kenya and is mainly imported from Malaysia and Indonesia, with Cameroon and South Africa emerging as suppliers.
Data showed that in the quarter to June 2025, Kenya imported 168,418 tonnes of palm oil, a slight drop from 172,174 tonnes in 2024. AFA said that the value of the palm oil imports, however, rose from Sh22.22billion in 2024 to Sh23 billion due to elevated prices.
Palm oil prices climbed in the global market in 2025 primarily due to tight supply due to adverse weather (like La Niña impacts), which affected harvests of the commodity in Southeast Asia, strong demand for biofuels, and higher consumption in China and India.
In the quarter under review, the volume of soya bean oil imports dropped steeply by 32 per cent to 1,671.02 tonnes, while the value dipped by 67 per cent to Sh252.48 million.
“This was ascribed to an increased local production and substitution by other oils. The main suppliers included the USA, Germany, and Uganda, with new entrants Benin and Togo,” the regulator said.
The AFA said sunflower imports more than doubled in volume from 1,773 tonnes in 2024 to 3,909 tonnes, and value rose to Sh601.45 million, reflecting high demand.
“However, these imports are expected to decline in the coming years due to ongoing government efforts aimed at boosting domestic sunflower seed cultivation and enhancing local edible oil processing capacity,” the agency said.
In the quarter under review, oil cake import volume rose from 2,942 tonnes in 2024 to 3,968 tonnes, and the value increased from Sh29.87 million in 2024 to Sh46.24 million.
The data further showed that groundnuts import in the quarter to June 2025 nearly doubled in volume from 1,212 tonnes to 2,410tonnes, and the value rose from Sh245 million in 2024 to Sh629 million.
