South Africa Oleochemical Market Overview, 2029

The oleochemical market in South Africa can trace its origin back from the agricultural sector of this country in particular, from palm oil, coconut oil, and other natural fats. This market took off in the late 20th century due to the growth of demand for sustainable and biodegradable products, driven by increased environmental awareness and green chemistry. To a large degree, the oleochemical industry in South Africa has been driven by the government through a myriad of policies and initiatives that aim at promoting the industries' sustainable operation and help in developing the local production. For instance, the trend towards industrialization and sourcing locally by the current government has encouraged the setup of manufacturing facilities and it generates employment opportunities and economic growth. The last years have shown a visible trend towards sustainability, such as manufacturers concentrating on renewable resources and biodegradable products. This trend is in line with the global consumer preferences for greener products and opens opportunities for South African companies through product innovation and diversification. Government involvement has been of very importance in providing for the cooperation of private companies, research institutions, and agricultural producers so that sustainability and innovativeness in the oleochemical sector are strengthened. The South African Bio-economy Strategy and other such initiatives look towards intertwining biotechnology with the agricultural sector, thus further expanding the oleochemical market. There are multinational corporations and local manufacturers participating in the oleochemical market of South Africa. Some biggies in the list comprise Wilmar International a company that globally holds leadership position in the palm oil segment and it has invested in local production facilities. Other key players include AECI, a chemical and explosives group involved in the manufacturing of specialty chemicals, and UP Chemical in the manufacturing of fatty acids and glycerol derivatives. These firms use regional agricultural wealth as their raw material in producing numerous oleochemical products for making a variety of surfactants, emulsifiers, and lubricants for the personal care, food, and pharmaceutical industries. According to the research report "South Africa Oleochemical Market Overview, 2029," published by Bonafide Research, the South Africa oleochemical market is anticipated to grow at more than 2 % CAGR from 2024 to 2029. In South African market, important growth driver is that major industries, especially in personal care and cosmetics, have a growing predisposition toward green and biodegradable products. With consumers showing high sensitivity to environmental concerns, producers are engaging in preparing environment-friendly alternatives, which are always isolated from natural oils and fats forming an intrinsic part of the oleochemical industry. This process is further driven by governments showing commitment to green initiatives and practices in support of that growth through support for local production and innovation. Improvements in technology and research will increase the efficiency of oleochemical processes, hence decreasing production costs while improving the quality of products. The South African bio-economy strategy will integrate biotechnology into agriculture to facilitate the manufacture of high-value added oleochemical products through strengthening the supply chain. Growth in food and beverages also offers opportunities through growing use as emulsifiers, stabilizers, flavor enhancers. Several factors will, however, challenge this oleochemical market growth in the near future. One of the major ones is the fluctuation in raw material costs, mainly of palm and coconut oil that hit production costs and profit margins. It will also see competition from cheap, imported petrochemical alternatives that dent market expansion in price-sensitive application segments. If the industry has to thrive among these challenges, then sustainability and quality of oleochemicals that are produced locally have to be pursued and invested in by key stakeholders, with new innovative technologies put into action for effective production. Partnerships between the government, the private sector, and research institutions can negotiate these challenges by making the South African oleochemical market competitive and strong in the global landscape.

It is expected that rapeseed oil will continue to play a leading role in South Africa's oleochemical market, given its versatility in application use and demand spanning from biodiesel production to food processing and personal care products. With such a positive fatty acid makeup, it easily becomes one of the favorites among manufacturers scouting for sustainable, high-performance alternatives. Additionally, increasing eco-friendly and biodegradable products demand for rapeseed oil in the industries focused on sustainable sourcing. The Palm Oil and Palm Kernel Oil are classified as growing segments because of their increased consumption in food products, cosmetics, and detergents. The low cost and high yield of palm oil makes it very attractive to food manufacturers. Moreover, the semi-solid nature of palm oil at room temperature delivers both the desired texture and stability in a variety of formulations. With growing awareness about sustainable palm oil sourcing, the market players are driven to invest in certification programs in order to remain in line with consumer preferences for ethically produced ingredients. Coconut Oil finds favor due to its growing popularity as a result of health and wellness trends. It is valued for its functional properties in food and cosmetics, so it is much in demand, especially by health-conscious consumers. Soybean Oil sees wide application in food and biofuel production, but has tough competitors among more multifunctional oils like rapeseed. Meanwhile, Sunflower Oil is known due to its high content of vitamin E and increasingly applied for cooking and food processing, mainly among health-focused consumers. Another attractive area is the other oil segment, based on animal fats, waste and by-products, and emerging sources such as microbial oils this at a time when industries are racing to find newer, cleaner sources of oils. This diversification reflects a broader trend toward more circular economy practices and resource efficiency in the oleochemical market. The food and feed segment is dominating in the South African Oleochemical market since the escalating demand for edible oils and fats emanates from food processing and the production of animal feed. This segment is driven by the growing population and the increasing consumption of processed foods that require oils with stable, good quality. Moreover, a growing interest in aspects of health and nutrition of the food industry is working demand toward more natural and sustainable sources of oil, thereby cementing food and feed as the major segment. The personal care and cosmetics application segment has been labeled as growing on account of a growing consumer preference for natural and organic products. Consumers are fast becoming aware of the ingredients in personal care products and tend to favor those containing alternative sources of oleochemicals. This favoritism towards sustainability is most pronounced in the sectors of skincare, haircare, and cosmetics. The preference for soaps and detergents is also a vital segment in the oleochemical market, as they require large quantities of surfactants derived from oils and fats. Although this segment is growing as a result of the shift towards biodegradable and environmentally-friendly cleaning products, such growth rate cannot be compared to that of personal care. Only a minor application of oleochemicals is as processing aids and additives in rubber and plastics, and this segment also remains fairly stable with modest growth rates tied to rising demand for bio-based materials. Coatings and resins benefit from oleochemicals in terms of performance improvement and from sustainable options within a number of applications. This is also an expanding segment as industries look for alternatives to petroleum-based products. Increased demand has been witnessed for oleochemical-based lubricants from the requirement of eco-friendly, biodegradable lubricants in the automotive as well as industrial applications sector. Fatty Acids dominate the oleochemical market in South Africa because of their significant role in food, personal care, and industrial applications. On the basis of versatility, they are described as basic raw materials for the production of soaps, detergents, emulsifiers, and surfactants. This segment growth is further fueled by the increasing demand for biodegradable and environment-friendly products, as fatty acids are, in essence, obtained from renewable sources and hence find an attractive positioning among manufacturers seeking to reach goals on sustainability. Fatty Alcohols serve as important intermediates in the production of surfactants and personal care products like lotions and shampoos. Though they are a massive fragment, they do not enjoy the same growth rate as fatty acids basically because fatty acids had already been established in the market. Fatty acid derivatives are compounds formed by modifying fatty acids to get a wide different range of applications in food, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics. This segment is growing as industries increasingly seek tailored solutions for some functionalities, like emulsification and thickening. Another growing-basis derivative is Fatty Acid Methyl Ester, produced from fatty acids through transesterification and increasingly applied in renewable energy. Government policies on reducing dependence on fossil fuels and increasing emphasis on biofuels and renewable energy have driven this segment through demand from the automobile and industrial sectors.

Make this report your own

Have queries/questions regarding a report?

Take advantage of intelligence tailored to your business objective

Ask an Expert

Manmayi Raval

Research Consultant

Considered in this report • Historic year: 2018 • Base year: 2023 • Estimated year: 2024 • Forecast year: 2029 Aspects covered in this report • Oleochemical market Outlook with its value and forecast along with its segments • Various drivers and challenges • On-going trends and developments • Top profiled companies • Strategic recommendation

Don’t pay for what you don’t need. Save 30%

Customise your report by selecting specific countries or regions

Specify Scope Now

By Source • Palm Oil and Palm Kernel Oil • Coconut Oil • Soybean Oil • Rapeseed Oil • Sunflower Oil • Other Oil (Animal Fats, Waste and By-Products, Microbial and Emerging Sources) By End Users • Personal care and Comestics • Soaps and detergents • Food and feed • Rubber and plastics • Coatings and Resins • Lubricants • Others By Types • Fatty acids • Fatty alcohols • Fatty acid derivatives • Fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) The approach of the report: This report consists of a combined approach of primary and secondary research. Initially, secondary research was used to get an understanding of the market and list the companies that are present in it. The secondary research consists of third-party sources such as press releases, annual reports of companies, and government-generated reports and databases. After gathering the data from secondary sources, primary research was conducted by conducting telephone interviews with the leading players about how the market is functioning and then conducting trade calls with dealers and distributors of the market. Post this; we have started making primary calls to consumers by equally segmenting them in regional aspects, tier aspects, age group, and gender. Once we have primary data with us, we can start verifying the details obtained from secondary sources. Intended audience This report can be useful to industry consultants, manufacturers, suppliers, associations, and organizations related to the Oleochemical industry, government bodies, and other stakeholders to align their market-centric strategies. In addition to marketing and presentations, it will also increase competitive knowledge about the industry. Keywords: Oleochemical, Palm Oil and Palm Kernel Oil, Coconut Oil, Soybean Oil, Rapeseed Oil, Sunflower Oil, Animal Fats, Waste and By-Products, Microbial and Emerging Sources, personal care and comestics, soaps and detergents, food and feed, Rubber and plastics, Coatings and Resins, Lubricants, Fatty acids, Fatty alcohols, Fatty acid derivatives, Fatty acid methyl ester (FAME)