The edible oil prices could skyrocket this year following a shortage of high-quality sunflower seeds.
In 2023, edible oil prices posed a big challenge to most Kenyans as they grappled with the rising cost of living.
What cooking oil manufacturers said about prices
Sector players cited the continued fall of the shilling against the US dollar and other regional currencies as a major factor contributing to the increasing palm oil prices.
“Shipping freight is a major constraint and already the cost is going up. Most manufacturers are worried that the cost of production will go up. There is, therefore, no respite this year,” said Billow Kerrow, dealer of edible oil manufacturing in Kenya, as quoted by the EastAfrican.
According to the chairman of the edible oil sub-sector at the Kenya Association of Manufacturers, Abdulghani Mohamed Al-Wegih, prices of cooking oil will stabilise if Kenya fully implements the proposal to plant palm trees.
“You need a long-term plan to plant palm trees in Kenya require scientific assistance and technology from Indonesia and other palm producing-countries,” said Mohamed.
Current cooking oil prices in Kenya
Kenya imports more percentage of edible oils worth over KSh 100 billion, producing only 34% of the total cooking oil demand.
This has seen prices remain relatively high since 2022, accelerated by global dynamics including the Russia-Ukraine war.
A spot check by News 9 Kenya showed a litre of cooking oil retailed at an average of KSh 260 while two litres retailed at KSh 540 across supermarkets.
Quality of imported cooking oil in Kenya
There have been growing concerns about the quality of cooking oil imported to Kenya.
In December 2023, the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) refuted claims doing rounds in the media that poisonous cooking oil was imported into the country.
In a statement, the bureau assured Kenyans of its commitment to ensuring the safety and quality of all local and imported products in the country.
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