Africa's Liquid Soap and Washing Preparation Market to Expand Robustly, Driven by Growing Demand Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic

IndexBox has just published a new report: 'Africa - Organic Surface-Active Products For Washing The Skin - Market Analysis, Forecast, Size, Trends And Insights'. Here is a summary of the report's key findings.

According to the IndexBox study, consumption of organic surface-active products and preparations for washing the skin has nearly doubled over the past decade, due to population growth and rising middle-class incomes. In addition, urbanization had a positive effect. In 2018, the revenue of the skin organic surface-active products market in Africa was estimated at $1.2B, an increase of 2.5% y-o-y. Experts expect that the demand for liquid soap and other detergents will increase significantly in the near future due to the coronavirus pandemic. 

Consumption by Country in Africa

The countries with the highest volumes of skin organic surface-active products consumption in 2018 were Nigeria (148K tonnes), Egypt (104K tonnes) and South Africa (73K tonnes), with a combined 80% share of total consumption. Somalia, Mali, Sierra Leone and Algeria lagged somewhat behind, together accounting for a further 15%.

From 2007 to 2018, the most notable rate of growth in terms of skin organic surface-active products consumption, amongst the main consuming countries, was attained by Algeria, while consumption for the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Exports in Africa

In 2018, the exports of organic surface-active products for washing the skin in Africa totaled 7.7K tonnes, picking up by 13% against the previous year. Overall, skin organic surface-active products exports continue to indicate a strong expansion.

In value terms, skin organic surface-active products exports stood at $18M (IndexBox estimates) in 2018.

Exports by Country

South Africa ($14M) remains the largest skin organic surface-active products supplier in Africa, comprising 77% of total skin organic surface-active products exports. The second position in the ranking was occupied by Egypt ($1.8M), with a 9.9% share of total exports.

In South Africa, skin organic surface-active products exports increased at an average annual rate of +16.7% over the period from 2007-2018. In the other countries, the average annual rates were as follows: Egypt (+5.0% per year) and Nigeria (+82.4% per year).

Export Prices by Country

In 2018, the skin organic surface-active products export price in Africa amounted to $2,366 per tonne, leveling off at the previous year. Over the period under review, the skin organic surface-active products export price, however, continues to indicate a relatively flat trend pattern. The pace of growth appeared the most rapid in 2012 an increase of 19% y-o-y. The level of export price peaked at $3,395 per tonne in 2009; however, from 2010 to 2018, export prices failed to regain their momentum.

Prices varied noticeably by the country of origin; the country with the highest price was Egypt ($4,116 per tonne), while South Africa ($2,177 per tonne) was amongst the lowest.

From 2007 to 2018, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Egypt, while the other leaders experienced mixed trends in the export price figures.

Imports in Africa

In 2018, the skin organic surface-active products imports in Africa totaled 37K tonnes, picking up by 21% against the previous year. In general, skin organic surface-active products imports continue to indicate a buoyant increase.

In value terms, skin organic surface-active products imports amounted to $101M (IndexBox estimates) in 2018.

Imports by Country

Algeria ($24M), South Africa ($21M) and Morocco ($9.3M) appeared to be the countries with the highest levels of imports in 2018, with a combined 54% share of total imports. Botswana, Libya, Angola, Namibia, Tunisia, Egypt, Mauritius, Ghana and Zimbabwe lagged somewhat behind, together comprising a further 30%.

In terms of the main importing countries, Zimbabwe experienced the highest growth rate of the value of imports, over the period under review, while imports for the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Import Prices by Country

In 2018, the skin organic surface-active products import price in Africa amounted to $2,686 per tonne, approximately mirroring the previous year. There were significant differences in the average prices amongst the major importing countries. In 2018, the country with the highest price was Algeria ($3,545 per tonne), while Zimbabwe ($1,468 per tonne) was amongst the lowest.

Source: IndexBox Platform