Japan vs South Africa: Palm oil imports
Japan
636,000 tonnes
in 2022
South Africa
510,000 tonnes
in 2023
Japan rank
19th
South Africa rank
22nd
Palm oil imports over time
- Japan
- South Africa
How they compare
Japan currently reports 636,000 tonnes against 510,000 tonnes in South Africa, a difference of 126,000 tonnes.
That makes Japan's figure about 1.2 times South Africa's.
Across all 62 years both countries report, Japan has been ahead every year.
Japan ranks 19th and South Africa ranks 22nd of 190 countries.
Japan has averaged higher in every one of the 7 decades both report.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | Japan | South Africa | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 24,444 tonnes | 1,667 tonnes | 22,778 tonnes | Japan |
| 1970s | 113,400 tonnes | 6,000 tonnes | 107,400 tonnes | Japan |
| 1980s | 202,400 tonnes | 29,200 tonnes | 173,200 tonnes | Japan |
| 1990s | 396,800 tonnes | 137,900 tonnes | 258,900 tonnes | Japan |
| 2000s | 495,000 tonnes | 341,900 tonnes | 153,100 tonnes | Japan |
| 2010s | 643,200 tonnes | 408,100 tonnes | 235,100 tonnes | Japan |
| 2020s | 678,333 tonnes | 494,333 tonnes | 184,000 tonnes | Japan |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher palm oil imports, Japan or South Africa?
- Japan, at 636,000 tonnes against 510,000 tonnes in South Africa as of 2022.
- What is the difference in palm oil imports between Japan and South Africa?
- 126,000 tonnes, with Japan ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for Japan and South Africa?
- 62 years are reported by both, from 1961 to 2022.
- How do Japan and South Africa rank globally for palm oil imports?
- Japan ranks 19th 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.