The Growing Demand for Jamaican Black Castor Oil in Global Markets

Feb 17, 2025 Jamaican Black Castor Oil
The Growing Demand for Jamaican Black Castor Oil in Global Markets

Although Jamaican Black Castor Oil is just a variation of castor oil, its thick consistency, high pH level, and alkalinity have made a distinctive prominence in various sectors. One US-based survey was conducted to find which products of castor oil consumers prefer more.  The JBCO was favourable to 15% of consumers among other products. Not only in the US but in other countries like India, Korea, the UK, and South Africa, JBCO has made its reputation as a vital ingredient to be used in the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries.

With increased global awareness about both the benefits of JBCO and the need for sustainability, it can be estimated that the future is bright for this industry. But does global market analysis support this notion?

Let’s review several studies made on Jamaican Castor Oil exports, imports, and consumer perspectives among major countries to make a research-based assertion.

Research Highlights that favor the growing demand for JBCO on a global level

In the last decade, there have been many studies done on JBCO, its benefits, and its future scope. Here are some findings that prove that this component is succeeding at a rapid pace in the global market.

  • The global Jamaican Black Castor Oil (JBCO) market is valued at $300 million per year.
  • In Feb 2024 alone, 30 Jamaican Black Castor Oil export shipments were made worldwide. This marks a year-on-year growth of 900% compared to Feb 2023 and a -38% sequential growth from Jan 2024.
  • World exported 275 Jamaican Black Castor Oil shipments from Mar 2023 to Feb 2024. These exports were made by 45 Exporters to 83 buyers, marking a growth rate of 122% compared to the preceding twelve months.
  • 53% of US consumers cite environmental sustainability and authenticity as key motivating factors to paying more for JBCO in the future.
  • Demand for JBCO outstrips supply in the US market – 15% of all US castor oil sales are labeled and marketed as JBCO.
  • Consumers who are aware of JBCO are willing to pay more for it – with the most common potential price premium being between 10% and 20% more than current prices

Geographical distribution of the JBCO market 

Jamaican Black Castor Oil is exported to over 42 countries in the world. Almost 17 countries are known to be key exporters. Among these, India is the leading exporter with a 71% market share. This is followed by the UK and the US holding 11 and 8% market share, respectively. Recently, the JBCO market has seen substantial growth, denoting an exponential success rate leading to high scope in the coming years. Here are some statistics recorded for the years 2023-24 that support this notion.

Country  Export /Import and Growth (2023-2024)  The country’s key exporters/importers 
India Shipment: 159

Growth: 400%  compared to Feb 2023

Exports from India go to South Africa, Kenya, and The United States.
South Africa Shipment: 52

Growth rate: 206%

Imports from the United States, UK, and India
United Kingdom Shipments: 67

Growth: 200%

Exports to India, Philippines, and Vietnam.
United States Shipments:  58
Growth rate: 123%
Imports from China, India,and Spain
Philippines Shipments: 16
Growth rate: 78 %Sequential increase: 5%
Imports oil from Poland, the United States, and the United Kingdom.
Kenya Shipments: 0

Growth rate: 0%

Imports from India, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States.

Factors that Catalysed JBCO Demand WorldWide 

Several key factors have contributed to the significant growth of the global market for Jamaican Black Castor Oil (JBCO).

These are as follows :

Rising Demand for Natural and Organic Personal Care Products

In several countries, consumers are opting for natural ingredients like JBCO in their skin and hair care routine.  Research shows that the global organic personal care market is expected to reach USD 15.98 billion in the coming years. The reason can be a change in the perspective of today’s generation of consumers. Awareness about the effects of chemical products coupled with understanding the importance of sustainability will drive the JBCO market to success.

Increased Awareness of JBCO’s Health Benefits

Apart from cosmetic benefits, JBCO is also known for the numerous health benefits it provides. Its ability to treat skin conditions and cure lung-related diseases is enthralling consumers all over the world. As awareness of its curing power increases, it’s creating its place in pharmaceutical industries in every nation, mostly where people prefer natural ingredients in medicine over chemicals.

Expansion of the Global Castor Oil Market

It has been estimated that the broader castor oil, which also includes JBCO, is expected to reach 1.9 USD billion by 2031 at a CAGR of 4.9 %. This is an upgrade from what it was in 2022, which was around USD 1.2 billion.

Growth of the Natural Hair Movement

A world-popular phenomenon, the natural hair movement, reflects on keeping natural African hair as they are. Women and men, not only in Africa but in many countries, are encouraged by this movement. This denotes a high demand for products that cater to natural hair care. JBCO, with its moisturising and strengthening properties, has become a staple in many natural hair care regimens, further driving its market growth.

Technological Advancements in Extraction Methods

Earlier, the production of JBCO was limited to traditional methods. These limitations didn’t intrigue marketers to invest in it as traditional methods require more manpower hence more expenses in salary and less output. However, there have been technical Advancements in extraction methods that have improved the quality and availability of JBCO. These technological improvements have made JBCO more accessible to consumers and manufacturers, supporting market expansion.

Future Research Development in JBCO 

Until now, all the facts and figures only tell that the JBCO market and its product base are to see great success and acceptance from consumers. In the future, the JBCO manufacturing and distribution sector will forge advancements to work up the challenges.

There has been a lot of ongoing research projected towards the enhancement of the quality and efficiency of JBCO production. The University of West Indies, Mona Campus has taken the initiative to develop phenotypic, genetic, and physicochemical standards for JBCO. These include gene sequencing of the Jamaican plan and  chemical characterisation of oil. This can significantly improve product quality and product efficiency.

Conclusion 

From the above discussion, it can be concluded that awareness about the goodness of JBCO is increasing, and so is its manufacturing and distribution. Current studies have shown that both exports and imports have increased over the last year. Its demand in countries like the US is so much that the total JBCO market supply is less than its requirement. This creates an opportunity for industries to grow and earn profit by meeting this requirement.

It’s the right time for the cosmetic, pharmaceutical, electrical, textile, lubricant, and other industries to invest in premium-quality JBCO accessible at Ambuja Solvex and make the most out of this rising global demand.