3 ms·
While the base (ash in this case) can be locally produced, africa as a continent isn't a big edible oil producer/exporter, and that's usually the expensive part
by Scoundreller 5y ago
While the base (ash in this case) can be locally produced, africa as a continent isn't a big edible oil producer/exporter, and that's usually the expensive part in soapmaking.
And one could argue that plant ash isn't the most sustainable source of base in making soap.
- samatman 5y agoWest Africa is the home of the oil palm, and doesn't need to go full Borneo to produce adequate amounts of fat for saponification.
- Scoundreller 5y agoMaybe the home, but that doesn't mean productive. They're not producing enough to export, and seem to even be net importing it: https://oec.world/en/profile/hs92/palm-oil https://oec.world/en/profile/hs92/palm-oil But maybe not being well represented here indicates a healthy domestic market. (and this data can be suspect: Netherlands aren't growing any, but might do some processing of some kind or re-export) https://www.indexmundi.com/agriculture/?commodity=palm-oil https://www.indexmundi.com/agriculture/?commodity=palm-oil shows 84% of production being from Indonesia and Malaysia.
- sangnoir 5y agoWhy would you consider exports a useful metric here? Soap can be manufactured with oil for domestic consumption.
- wiether 5y agoShea oil.