Ethiopia vs South Africa: Palm oil imports
Ethiopia
428,000 tonnes
in 2023
South Africa
510,000 tonnes
in 2023
Ethiopia rank
24th
South Africa rank
22nd
Palm oil imports over time
- Ethiopia
- South Africa
How they compare
South Africa currently reports 510,000 tonnes against 428,000 tonnes in Ethiopia, a difference of 82,000 tonnes.
That makes South Africa's figure about 1.2 times Ethiopia's.
The two have swapped places 6 times across 31 shared years of data; in 1993 it was South Africa ahead.
Ethiopia ranks 24th and South Africa ranks 22nd of 190 countries.
Across the 4 decades both report, Ethiopia averaged higher in 1 and South Africa in 3.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | Ethiopia | South Africa | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 17,714 tonnes | 153,000 tonnes | 135,286 tonnes | South Africa |
| 2000s | 67,900 tonnes | 341,900 tonnes | 274,000 tonnes | South Africa |
| 2010s | 394,300 tonnes | 408,100 tonnes | 13,800 tonnes | South Africa |
| 2020s | 671,500 tonnes | 498,250 tonnes | 173,250 tonnes | Ethiopia |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher palm oil imports, Ethiopia or South Africa?
- South Africa, at 510,000 tonnes against 428,000 tonnes in Ethiopia as of 2023.
- What is the difference in palm oil imports between Ethiopia and South Africa?
- 82,000 tonnes, with South Africa ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for Ethiopia and South Africa?
- 31 years are reported by both, from 1993 to 2023.
- How do Ethiopia and South Africa rank globally for palm oil imports?
- Ethiopia ranks 24th and South Africa ranks 22nd of 190 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – processed by Our World in Data, published as Palm oil imports. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.