In 2022, Nigeria imported 35,811 metric tonnes of soap noodles valued at over N17 billion, according to the Raw Material Research and Development Council (RMRDC).
The DG of the council, Professor Hussaini Doko Ibrahim, speaking on the issue recently stated that the global soap noodles market is expected to reach $4.9bn by 2025 at a Compound annual growth Rate (CAGR) of 3.9 percent during the forecast period from 2018-2025.
According to Professor Ibrahim, the council’s current priority is to encourage domestic manufacturing of soap noodles in order to reduce importation and save the nation more than N17bn a year.
By saponifying vegetable oils, such as coconut oil, palm oil, or animal fats, fatty acid salts are obtained, resulting in the production of soap noodles.
Soap noodles are noodle-shaped products formed by the reaction of sodium hydroxide and palm-based fatty acids/tallow.
A typical blend of the product comprises varying percentages of palm oil and kernel or coconut oil.
However, 80 percent palm oil and 20 percent palm kernel or coconut oil is commonly used. Generally, soap manufacturers purchase soap noodles and add their flavour, fragrances, pigments, and other components to differentiate them from other brands.
Once this has been accomplished, the soap is moulded and pressed into its final shape, stamped with the brand and packaged.
Different specifications of soap noodles are produced by adding various functional additives, depending on their end-use applications either as toilet soaps, laundry soaps, translucent soaps, high lather soaps and medicated soaps.
The market for toilet soap is national and with a population estimated at over 200 million with an annual growth rate of 5.7 percent, and an average economic growth rate of 3.5 percent per annum, Nigeria has a large market for soap.
Professor Ibrahim said the import of soap noodles valued at over N17bn is fuelled by the absence of local technology, which has hindered progress, to obviate this situation and promote local production.
The DG said that “the council promoted production of improved varieties of major oilseeds such as palm nut, groundnut, sunflower, sesame, coconut, cotton seed, soybean, castor seed, etc., in collaboration with mandated research institutes and private sector operatives in the country.
“These efforts have led to increased production and productivity of oilseeds in the country. Today, through the initiatives of the council, castor and safflower seeds are being produced and processed in substantial quantities, and the country is fast becoming a major player in the production of the oil from the oilseeds in West Africa,” he said.
He emphasised that the recent emphasis on the utilization of non-edible seeds as basic raw materials for some industrial applications was aimed at supporting food security to preserve the edible ones for food.
“In line with its mandates, the council has been promoting increased production and productivity through its boosting program of various oilseeds in the country for industrial use. The Senate has requested the Federal Government through a motion to revert to 35 percent import duty from the current 10 percent on the importation of soap noodles. The law makers advocated that the increment would make investors to set up manufacturing lines to produce soap noodles and to create jobs in the country,” he said.
