South Africa Edible Oil Market Report: Trends, Growth and Forecast (2025-2030)
By Type (Industrial Oil, Vegetable Oils, Animal-Derived Oils, Palm Oils), By Application (Food, Non-Food Application), By Extraction Type (Mechanical Extraction, Solvent Extraction, Hydrogenation, Sparging), By Packaging Type (Pouches, Jars, Cans, Bottles), By End Use (Household, Food Service, Industrial), By Sales Channel (Retails Offline, Retail Online)
- Food & Beverage
- Dec 2025
- VI0020
- 125
-
South Africa Edible Oil Market Statistics, 2025
- Market Size Statistics
- Edible Oil in South Africa is estimated at $ 680 Million.
- The market size is expected to grow to $ 770 Million by 2030.
- Market to register a CAGR of around 2.09% during 2025-30.
- Product Shares
- Sunflower Oil grabbed market share of 40%.
- Sunflower Oil to witness a volume CAGR of around 1.12%.
- Competition
- More than 10 companies are actively engaged in producing Edible Oil in South Africa.
- Top 5 companies acquired 80% of the market share.
- Unity Food Products (Pty) Ltd, Southern Oil (Pty) Ltd, Upfield Holdings BV, Cape Oil & Margarine (Pty) Ltd, Wilmar SA (Pty) Ltd etc., are few of the top companies.
- Sales Channel
- Retail Offline grabbed 95% of the market.
South Africa Edible Oil Market Outlook
The South Africa market for edible oils persists with challenges in 2025 as retail volume sales remain decreasing, though at a slower rate than in the preceding year. Price sensitivity by consumers persists with continued economic pressure and volatile disposable incomes. Consequently, consumer habits have evolved, with most turning to reduced packaging sizes, buying the oil intended for current use, and downtrading to cheaper oils such as soy and canola oils.
Sunflower oil, traditionally the most used, is faring worst, hit by persistent price uncertainty fueled by geopolitical concerns and supply chain interruptions in the Black Sea region. While prices fell temporarily in 2023, they have again increased in 2024, prompting consumers to switch to alternatives that cost less. In the same vein, olive oil, spurred by wellness trends, is severely hit by international supply shortfalls occasioned by Mediterranean drought and resultant price increases for the third year in a row. Although part of the consumers are turning to private label or locally made olive oils, its prohibitively high price restricts wide acceptance.
Retailers are shifting strategies to cater to these changes through emphasis on low everyday pricing and curtailing promotional activity. While foodservice demand for edible oils has completely bounced back to pre-pandemic levels due to the sector's resilience during loadshedding and consumer appetite for convenient food, soy and canola oils should gain increasing popularity because of their affordability and increasing local production, whereas olive oil will maintain niche demand among health-focused consumers. Overall, the market environment is still under pressure, with lower-cost oils set to rise and high-end oils remaining under pressure.
South Africa Edible Oil Market Challenge
Retail volume sales will be hard-pressed to reach pre-pandemic volumes as consumers increasingly turn to foodservice. This is a result of sustained loadshedding, with South Africa experiencing sustained power outages. Although some customers will continue to prepare at home to maintain costs, the growing demand among busy individuals for fast food is driving edible oil consumption via foodservice. Indeed, edible oils' volume sales in foodservice came all the way back to pre-pandemic levels in 2023.
Numerous foodservice establishments have also made investments in standby power supplies, allowing business to continue uninterrupted during power failures. This not only increases volumes for the foodservice channel but also decreases demand on retail oils, as consumers turn to other meal solutions when they are unable to prepare meals at home. Sunflower and soy oils continue to be the leading oils consumed in foodservice, further demonstrating the channel's increasing leadership.
South Africa Edible Oil Market Trend
Global and domestic health and wellness trends are likely to continue driving consumer purchases, enabling some demand for olive oil even as overall retail volume is forecasted to decline. Praised for its monounsaturated fat and antioxidant content, olive oil will attract health-driven consumers. Domestic olive oil manufactured in South Africa is generally of better quality and better value than imports, adding to the latter's attractiveness.
In addition, increasing awareness regarding the health concerns associated with obesity and heart disease is compelling customers either to cut down on using oil or shift to superior alternatives when possible. Nevertheless, since it is the highest-priced choice among edible oils, olive oil will only continue to register extremely low penetration rates in South Africa relative to other variations.
South Africa Edible Oil Market Opportunity
The increasing consumer preference for affordable cooking solutions is giving rise to a large opportunity in the edible oils market. Oils with lower cost, like soy, canola, and other blends, are expected to witness significant growth during the forecast period. This demand change is mainly propelled by rising price consciousness and demands for affordable food ingredients.
Therefore, high-end oils such as sunflower and olive oil are likely to see a dip in demand. Additionally, the consistent increase in production of soy and canola oil is likely to make sure of sustained price competitiveness. Retailers are likely to react to this trend as well by growing their private label lines, providing cheaper alternatives to customers. These trends make value-driven product offerings a major growth driver for value chain players in the edible oils space.
| Report Coverage | Details |
|---|---|
| Market Forecast | 2025-30 |
| USD Value 2024 | $ 680 Million |
| USD Value 2030 | $ 770 Million |
| CAGR 2025-2030 | 2.09% |
| Largest Category | Sunflower Oil segment leads with 40% market share |
| Top Challenges | Shift Toward Foodservice Hampers Retail Volume Recovery |
| Top Trends | Growing Health Consciousness to Support Niche Demand for Olive Oil |
| Top Opportunities | Rising Preference for Affordable Oil Alternatives Driving Market Shift |
| Key Players | Unity Food Products (Pty) Ltd, Southern Oil (Pty) Ltd, Upfield Holdings BV, Cape Oil & Margarine (Pty) Ltd, Wilmar SA (Pty) Ltd, Shoprite Checkers (Pty) Ltd, Spar Group Ltd, Pick 'n' Pay Retailers (Pty) Ltd, Maxims Packers (Pty) Ltd, Costa F & Son and Others. |
South Africa Edible Oil Market Segmentation Analysis
The largest market segment in the South Africa Edible Oils Market is sunflower oil. Traditionally, sunflower oil has been the most sought-after edible oil in the country, followed by soy and rapeseed oils. The segment has, however, recently encountered serious challenges in the face of double-digit price spikes that started in 2021 and ran for the whole of 2022.
These were largely fueled by tensions in Eastern Europe, as well as hoped-for disruptions in sunflower crop output and shipment from the Black Sea region, one of the world's biggest exporters. Though average unit prices fell significantly in 2023, they increased once more in 2024, well above the pre-pandemic level and category average. This sustained pressure has decelerated sunflower oil retail volume sales, leading consumers to switch over to cheaper options like soy oil, particularly during sustained economic restriction, high inflation, and recurring loadshedding affecting consumption habits at the household level.
Top Companies in South Africa Edible Oil Market
The top companies operating in the market include Unity Food Products (Pty) Ltd, Southern Oil (Pty) Ltd, Upfield Holdings BV, Cape Oil & Margarine (Pty) Ltd, Wilmar SA (Pty) Ltd, Shoprite Checkers (Pty) Ltd, Spar Group Ltd, Pick 'n' Pay Retailers (Pty) Ltd, Maxims Packers (Pty) Ltd, Costa F & Son, etc., are the top players operating in the South Africa Edible Oil Market.
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Report
1. Market Segmentation
1.1. Research Scope
1.2. Research Methodology
1.3. Definitions and Assumptions
2. Executive Summary
3. South Africa Edible Oil Market Policies, Regulations, and Standards
4. South Africa Edible Oil Market Dynamics
4.1. Growth Factors
4.2. Challenges
4.3. Trends
4.4. Opportunities
5. South Africa Edible Oil Market Statistics, 2020-2030F
5.1. Market Size & Growth Outlook
5.1.1.By Revenues in US$ Million
5.1.2.By Quantity Sold in Million Litres
5.2. Market Segmentation & Growth Outlook
5.2.1.By Type
5.2.1.1. Industrial Oil- Market Insights and Forecast 2020-2030, USD Million
5.2.1.1.1. Linseed Oil- Market Insights and Forecast 2020-2030, USD Million
5.2.1.1.2. Castor Oil- Market Insights and Forecast 2020-2030, USD Million
5.2.1.2. Vegetable Oils- Market Insights and Forecast 2020-2030, USD Million
5.2.1.2.1. Canola Oil- Market Insights and Forecast 2020-2030, USD Million
5.2.1.2.2. Soybean Oil- Market Insights and Forecast 2020-2030, USD Million
5.2.1.2.3. Olive Oil- Market Insights and Forecast 2020-2030, USD Million
5.2.1.2.4. Sunflower Oil- Market Insights and Forecast 2020-2030, USD Million
5.2.1.2.5. Peanut Oil- Market Insights and Forecast 2020-2030, USD Million
5.2.1.2.6. Corn Oil- Market Insights and Forecast 2020-2030, USD Million
5.2.1.2.7. Rapeseed Oil- Market Insights and Forecast 2020-2030, USD Million
5.2.1.2.8. Soy Oil- Market Insights and Forecast 2020-2030, USD Million
5.2.1.3. Animal-Derived Oils- Market Insights and Forecast 2020-2030, USD Million
5.2.1.3.1. Fish Oil- Market Insights and Forecast 2020-2030, USD Million
5.2.1.4. Palm Oils- Market Insights and Forecast 2020-2030, USD Million
5.2.1.4.1. Palm Oil- Market Insights and Forecast 2020-2030, USD Million
5.2.1.4.2. Coconut Oil- Market Insights and Forecast 2020-2030, USD Million
5.2.1.4.3. Palm Kernel Oil- Market Insights and Forecast 2020-2030, USD Million
5.2.2.By Application
5.2.2.1. Food- Market Insights and Forecast 2020-2030, USD Million
5.2.2.2. Non-Food Application- Market Insights and Forecast 2020-2030, USD Million
5.2.3.By Extraction Type
5.2.3.1. Mechanical Extraction- Market Insights and Forecast 2020-2030, USD Million
5.2.3.2. Solvent Extraction- Market Insights and Forecast 2020-2030, USD Million
5.2.3.3. Hydrogenation- Market Insights and Forecast 2020-2030, USD Million
5.2.3.4. Sparging- Market Insights and Forecast 2020-2030, USD Million
5.2.4.By Packaging Type
5.2.4.1. Pouches- Market Insights and Forecast 2020-2030, USD Million
5.2.4.2. Jars- Market Insights and Forecast 2020-2030, USD Million
5.2.4.3. Cans- Market Insights and Forecast 2020-2030, USD Million
5.2.4.4. Bottles- Market Insights and Forecast 2020-2030, USD Million
5.2.5.By End Use
5.2.5.1. Household- Market Insights and Forecast 2020-2030, USD Million
5.2.5.2. Food Service- Market Insights and Forecast 2020-2030, USD Million
5.2.5.3. Industrial- Market Insights and Forecast 2020-2030, USD Million
5.2.6.By Sales Channel
5.2.6.1. Retails Offline- Market Insights and Forecast 2020-2030, USD Million
5.2.6.1.1. Grocery Retailers- Market Insights and Forecast 2020-2030, USD Million
5.2.6.1.1.1. Convenience Retailers- Market Insights and Forecast 2020-2030, USD Million
5.2.6.1.1.2. Supermarkets- Market Insights and Forecast 2020-2030, USD Million
5.2.6.1.1.3. Hypermarkets- Market Insights and Forecast 2020-2030, USD Million
5.2.6.1.1.4. Discounters- Market Insights and Forecast 2020-2030, USD Million
5.2.6.1.1.5. Warehouse Clubs- Market Insights and Forecast 2020-2030, USD Million
5.2.6.1.1.6. Small Local Grocers- Market Insights and Forecast 2020-2030, USD Million
5.2.6.2. Retail Online- Market Insights and Forecast 2020-2030, USD Million
5.2.7.By Competitors
5.2.7.1. Competition Characteristics
5.2.7.2. Market Share & Analysis
6. South Africa Industrial Oils Market Outlook, 2020-2030F
6.1. Market Size & Growth Outlook
6.1.1.By Revenues in US$ Million
6.1.2.By Quantity Sold in Million Litres
6.2. Market Segmentation & Growth Outlook
6.2.1.By Type- Market Insights and Forecast 2020-2030, USD Million
6.2.2.By Application- Market Insights and Forecast 2020-2030, USD Million
6.2.3.By Extraction Type- Market Insights and Forecast 2020-2030, USD Million
6.2.4.By Packaging Type- Market Insights and Forecast 2020-2030, USD Million
6.2.5.By End Use- Market Insights and Forecast 2020-2030, USD Million
6.2.6.By Sales Channel- Market Insights and Forecast 2020-2030, USD Million
7. South Africa Vegetable Oils Market Outlook, 2020-2030F
7.1. Market Size & Growth Outlook
7.1.1.By Revenues in US$ Million
7.1.2.By Quantity Sold in Million Litres
7.2. Market Segmentation & Growth Outlook
7.2.1.By Type- Market Insights and Forecast 2020-2030, USD Million
7.2.2.By Application- Market Insights and Forecast 2020-2030, USD Million
7.2.3.By Extraction Type- Market Insights and Forecast 2020-2030, USD Million
7.2.4.By Packaging Type- Market Insights and Forecast 2020-2030, USD Million
7.2.5.By End Use- Market Insights and Forecast 2020-2030, USD Million
7.2.6.By Sales Channel- Market Insights and Forecast 2020-2030, USD Million
8. South Africa Animal-Derived Oils Market Outlook, 2020-2030F
8.1. Market Size & Growth Outlook
8.1.1.By Revenues in US$ Million
8.1.2.By Quantity Sold in Million Litres
8.2. Market Segmentation & Growth Outlook
8.2.1.By Type- Market Insights and Forecast 2020-2030, USD Million
8.2.2.By Application- Market Insights and Forecast 2020-2030, USD Million
8.2.3.By Extraction Type- Market Insights and Forecast 2020-2030, USD Million
8.2.4.By Packaging Type- Market Insights and Forecast 2020-2030, USD Million
8.2.5.By End Use- Market Insights and Forecast 2020-2030, USD Million
8.2.6.By Sales Channel- Market Insights and Forecast 2020-2030, USD Million
9. South Africa Palm Oils Market Outlook, 2020-2030F
9.1. Market Size & Growth Outlook
9.1.1.By Revenues in US$ Million
9.1.2.By Quantity Sold in Million Litres
9.2. Market Segmentation & Growth Outlook
9.2.1.By Type- Market Insights and Forecast 2020-2030, USD Million
9.2.2.By Application- Market Insights and Forecast 2020-2030, USD Million
9.2.3.By Extraction Type- Market Insights and Forecast 2020-2030, USD Million
9.2.4.By Packaging Type- Market Insights and Forecast 2020-2030, USD Million
9.2.5.By End Use- Market Insights and Forecast 2020-2030, USD Million
9.2.6.By Sales Channel- Market Insights and Forecast 2020-2030, USD Million
10. Competitive Outlook
10.1. Company Profiles
10.1.1. Cape Oil & Margarine (Pty) Ltd
10.1.1.1. Business Description
10.1.1.2. Product Portfolio
10.1.1.3. Collaborations & Alliances
10.1.1.4. Recent Developments
10.1.1.5. Financial Details
10.1.1.6. Others
10.1.2. Wilmar SA (Pty) Ltd
10.1.2.1. Business Description
10.1.2.2. Product Portfolio
10.1.2.3. Collaborations & Alliances
10.1.2.4. Recent Developments
10.1.2.5. Financial Details
10.1.2.6. Others
10.1.3. Shoprite Checkers (Pty) Ltd
10.1.3.1. Business Description
10.1.3.2. Product Portfolio
10.1.3.3. Collaborations & Alliances
10.1.3.4. Recent Developments
10.1.3.5. Financial Details
10.1.3.6. Others
10.1.4. Spar Group Ltd
10.1.4.1. Business Description
10.1.4.2. Product Portfolio
10.1.4.3. Collaborations & Alliances
10.1.4.4. Recent Developments
10.1.4.5. Financial Details
10.1.4.6. Others
10.1.5. Pick 'n' Pay Retailers (Pty) Ltd
10.1.5.1. Business Description
10.1.5.2. Product Portfolio
10.1.5.3. Collaborations & Alliances
10.1.5.4. Recent Developments
10.1.5.5. Financial Details
10.1.5.6. Others
10.1.6. Unity Food Products (Pty) Ltd
10.1.6.1. Business Description
10.1.6.2. Product Portfolio
10.1.6.3. Collaborations & Alliances
10.1.6.4. Recent Developments
10.1.6.5. Financial Details
10.1.6.6. Others
10.1.7. Southern Oil (Pty) Ltd
10.1.7.1. Business Description
10.1.7.2. Product Portfolio
10.1.7.3. Collaborations & Alliances
10.1.7.4. Recent Developments
10.1.7.5. Financial Details
10.1.7.6. Others
10.1.8. Upfield Holdings BV
10.1.8.1. Business Description
10.1.8.2. Product Portfolio
10.1.8.3. Collaborations & Alliances
10.1.8.4. Recent Developments
10.1.8.5. Financial Details
10.1.8.6. Others
10.1.9. Maxims Packers (Pty) Ltd
10.1.9.1. Business Description
10.1.9.2. Product Portfolio
10.1.9.3. Collaborations & Alliances
10.1.9.4. Recent Developments
10.1.9.5. Financial Details
10.1.9.6. Others
10.1.10. Costa F & Son
10.1.10.1.Business Description
10.1.10.2.Product Portfolio
10.1.10.3.Collaborations & Alliances
10.1.10.4.Recent Developments
10.1.10.5.Financial Details
10.1.10.6.Others
11. Disclaimer
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Research Methodology
This study followed a structured approach comprising four key phases to assess the size and scope of the electro-oxidation market. The process began with thorough secondary research to collect data on the target market, related markets, and broader industry context. These findings, along with preliminary assumptions and estimates, were then validated through extensive primary research involving industry experts from across the value chain. To calculate the overall market size, both top-down and bottom-up methodologies were employed. Finally, market segmentation and data triangulation techniques were applied to refine and validate segment-level estimations.
Secondary Research
The secondary research phase involved gathering data from a wide range of credible and published sources. This step helped in identifying industry trends, defining market segmentation, and understanding the market landscape and value chain.
Sources consulted during this phase included:
- Company annual reports, investor presentations, and press releases
- Industry white papers and certified publications
- Trade directories and market-recognized databases
- Articles from authoritative authors and reputable journals
- Gold and silver standard websites
Secondary research was critical in mapping out the industry's value chain and monetary flow, identifying key market segments, understanding regional variations, and tracking significant industry developments.
Other key sources:
- Financial disclosures
- Industry associations and trade bodies
- News outlets and business magazines
- Academic journals and research studies
- Paid industry databases
Primary Research
To validate secondary data and gain deeper market insights, primary research was conducted with key stakeholders across both the supply and demand sides of the market.
On the demand side, participants included decision-makers and influencers from end-user industries—such as CIOs, CTOs, and CSOs—who provided first-hand perspectives on market needs, product usage, and future expectations.
On the supply side, interviews were conducted with manufacturers, industry associations, and institutional participants to gather insights into current offerings, product pipelines, and market challenges.
Primary interviews provided critical inputs such as:
- Market size and revenue data
- Product and service breakdowns
- Market forecasts
- Regional and application-specific trends
Stakeholders consulted included:
- Leading OEM and solution providers
- Channel and distribution partners
- End users across various applications
- Independent consultants and industry specialists
Market Size Estimation and Data Triangulation
- Identifying Key Market Participants (Secondary Research)
- Goal: To identify the major players or companies in the target market. This typically involves using publicly available data sources such as industry reports, market research publications, and financial statements of companies.
- Tools: Reports from firms like Gartner, Forrester, Euromonitor, Statista, IBISWorld, and others. Public financial statements, news articles, and press releases from top market players.
- Extracting Earnings of Key Market Participants
- Goal: To estimate the earnings generated from the product or service being analyzed. This step helps in understanding the revenue potential of each market player in a specific geography.
- Methods: Earnings data can be gathered from:
- Publicly available financial reports (for listed companies).
- Interviews and primary data sources from professionals, such as Directors, VPs, SVPs, etc. This is especially useful for understanding more nuanced, internal data that isn't publicly disclosed.
- Annual reports and investor presentations of key players.
- Data Collation and Development of a Relevant Data Model
- Goal: To collate inputs from both primary and secondary sources into a structured, data-driven model for market estimation. This model will incorporate key market KPIs and any independent variables relevant to the market.
- Key KPIs: These could include:
- Market size, growth rate, and demand drivers.
- Industry-specific metrics like market share, average revenue per customer (ARPC), or average deal size.
- External variables, such as economic growth rates, inflation rates, or commodity prices, that could affect the market.
- Data Modeling: Based on this data, the market forecasts are developed for the next 5 years. A combination of trend analysis, scenario modeling, and statistical regression might be used to generate projections.
- Scenario Analysis
- Goal: To test different assumptions and validate how sensitive the market is to changes in key variables (e.g., market demand, regulatory changes, technological disruptions).
- Types of Scenarios:
- Base Case: Based on current assumptions and historical data.
- Best-Case Scenario: Assuming favorable market conditions, regulatory environments, and technological advancements.
- Worst-Case Scenario: Accounting for adverse factors, such as economic downturns, stricter regulations, or unexpected disruptions.
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