By Cary Sifferath, USGC Regional Director in the Mediterranean and Africa

Corn oil is a preferred product across much of the Middle East and North Africa, and Tunisia — a major producer and exporter of olive oil — has emerged as the top regional market for U.S. corn oil in calendar year 2011. That is a big jump for Tunisia, which has traditionally been the number three market for U.S. corn oil exports; Tunisia more than doubled its imports over 2010.

There is a silent partner behind these figures, however, since as much as 70 percent of corn oil exported to Tunisia is re-exported to Libya. Both Tunisian and Libyan buyers have been in recent contact with the U.S. Grains Council, and U.S. corn oil exports continue to compete on flavor and quality against lower-priced Ukrainian sunflower oil, which is usually the cheapest vegetable oil product available in local shops.

Political instability has been a factor across much of the region, and the continuing controversy over biotech products has slashed U.S. corn oil exports to Turkey. The top U.S. export market in 2009, and number two (behind Saudi Arabia) in 2010, Turkey tumbled to the fifth spot in 2011, with total corn oil imports from the U.S. of 27,800.6 metric tons, a 59 percent reduction from the 2009 level. That decline was more than offset, however, by strong increases in Tunisia, Egypt, Spain and Kuwait. The Council is continuing to connect prospective buyers with U.S. suppliers to strengthen U.S. market share for this important value added product.