Palm oil imports in Kenya
Kenya: Palm oil imports was 848,000 tonnes in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
848,000 tonnes
Change on year
up 8.3%
World rank
14th
of 190 countries
All-time high
1.14 million tonnes
in 2020
All-time low
3,000 tonnes
in 1962
Years of data
63
1961–2023
Palm oil imports in Kenya, 1961–2023
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
Kenya recorded 848,000 tonnes for palm oil imports in 2023.
That represents a change of up 8.3% on the previous year and up 42.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, palm oil imports in Kenya peaked at 1.14 million tonnes in 2020 and was at its lowest, 3,000 tonnes, in 1962.
That places Kenya 14th out of 190 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Palm oil imports in Kenya, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 4,000 tonnes | — |
| 1962 | 3,000 tonnes | -25.0% |
| 1963 | 5,000 tonnes | +66.7% |
| 1964 | 6,000 tonnes | +20.0% |
| 1965 | 10,000 tonnes | +66.7% |
| 1966 | 8,000 tonnes | -20.0% |
| 1967 | 8,000 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 12,000 tonnes | +50.0% |
| 1969 | 17,000 tonnes | +41.7% |
| 1970 | 13,000 tonnes | -23.5% |
| 1971 | 23,000 tonnes | +76.9% |
| 1972 | 21,000 tonnes | -8.7% |
| 1973 | 22,000 tonnes | +4.8% |
| 1974 | 19,000 tonnes | -13.6% |
| 1975 | 15,000 tonnes | -21.1% |
| 1976 | 37,000 tonnes | +146.7% |
| 1977 | 46,000 tonnes | +24.3% |
| 1978 | 51,000 tonnes | +10.9% |
| 1979 | 47,000 tonnes | -7.8% |
| 1980 | 73,000 tonnes | +55.3% |
| 1981 | 99,000 tonnes | +35.6% |
| 1982 | 94,000 tonnes | -5.1% |
| 1983 | 73,000 tonnes | -22.3% |
| 1984 | 61,000 tonnes | -16.4% |
| 1985 | 83,000 tonnes | +36.1% |
| 1986 | 97,000 tonnes | +16.9% |
| 1987 | 129,000 tonnes | +33.0% |
| 1988 | 124,000 tonnes | -3.9% |
| 1989 | 145,000 tonnes | +16.9% |
| 1990 | 159,000 tonnes | +9.7% |
| 1991 | 174,000 tonnes | +9.4% |
| 1992 | 190,000 tonnes | +9.2% |
| 1993 | 126,000 tonnes | -33.7% |
| 1994 | 258,000 tonnes | +104.8% |
| 1995 | 181,000 tonnes | -29.8% |
| 1996 | 214,000 tonnes | +18.2% |
| 1997 | 210,000 tonnes | -1.9% |
| 1998 | 191,000 tonnes | -9.0% |
| 1999 | 229,000 tonnes | +19.9% |
| 2000 | 230,000 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 2001 | 369,000 tonnes | +60.4% |
| 2002 | 344,000 tonnes | -6.8% |
| 2003 | 295,000 tonnes | -14.2% |
| 2004 | 173,000 tonnes | -41.4% |
| 2005 | 381,000 tonnes | +120.2% |
| 2006 | 456,000 tonnes | +19.7% |
| 2007 | 428,000 tonnes | -6.1% |
| 2008 | 424,000 tonnes | -0.9% |
| 2009 | 503,000 tonnes | +18.6% |
| 2010 | 537,000 tonnes | +6.8% |
| 2011 | 166,000 tonnes | -69.1% |
| 2012 | 197,000 tonnes | +18.7% |
| 2013 | 594,000 tonnes | +201.5% |
| 2014 | 274,000 tonnes | -53.9% |
| 2015 | 321,000 tonnes | +17.2% |
| 2016 | 321,000 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 768,000 tonnes | +139.3% |
| 2018 | 764,000 tonnes | -0.5% |
| 2019 | 916,000 tonnes | +19.9% |
| 2020 | 1.14 million tonnes | +24.8% |
| 2021 | 838,000 tonnes | -26.7% |
| 2022 | 783,000 tonnes | -6.6% |
| 2023 | 848,000 tonnes | +8.3% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's 848,000 tonnes is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 54,000 tonnes, 15.7× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Kenya's 848,000 tonnes is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 56,000 tonnes, 15.1× the median. (45 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Palm oil imports in Kenya changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | +201.5% | 197,000 tonnes | 594,000 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 8,111 tonnes | 3,000 tonnes | 17,000 tonnes | 9 |
| 1970s | 29,400 tonnes | 13,000 tonnes | 51,000 tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 97,800 tonnes | 61,000 tonnes | 145,000 tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 193,200 tonnes | 126,000 tonnes | 258,000 tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 360,300 tonnes | 173,000 tonnes | 503,000 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 485,800 tonnes | 166,000 tonnes | 916,000 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 903,000 tonnes | 783,000 tonnes | 1.14 million tonnes | 4 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
More energy & mining data for Kenya
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary energy use, annual growth rate 6.22 % change on previous year (2024)
- Coal consumption, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2024)
- Coal consumption, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary energy use, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary energy use, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2024)
- Coal production, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2024)
- Coal production, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2024)
- Fuel imports 23.5% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is palm oil imports in Kenya?
- Palm oil imports in Kenya was 848,000 tonnes in 2023, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest palm oil imports recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 1.14 million tonnes in 2020.
- What is the lowest palm oil imports recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 3,000 tonnes in 1962.
- How does Kenya rank for palm oil imports?
- Kenya ranks 14th out of 190 countries with data for 2023.
- Is palm oil imports rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is up 42.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Kenya data come from?
- The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Palm oil imports. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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