Market research

Bread market in Libya

Release date: Mar 30, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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File format: docx, xlsx

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Earlier Report Observations

From 2018 to 2020, Libya's bread market volume fluctuated significantly, driven by the country's heavy reliance on wheat imports due to weak domestic production caused by political and security instability. The market surged to 18 582 t in 2019 as imports jumped to compensate for the shortfall, but then contracted to 14 865 t in 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic caused acute flour shortages and armed clashes halted some flour mills, disrupting supply chains.

After a period of stabilization in 2021, the market expanded again, reaching 20 424 t by 2023. This growth was primarily fueled by increased wheat imports, which rose 14% in 2023 as domestic production remained low. Government interventions, such as the Ministry of Economy regulating flour distribution and monitoring bakeries, aimed to ensure food security amidst the ongoing bread crisis, which also saw the emergence of small bakeries and traditional tannour bread gaining popularity.

In 2024, wheat imports continued to climb, reflecting persistent domestic production challenges exacerbated by the collapse of dams in Derna and a temporary 27% tax on the official foreign exchange rate that raised import costs. Authorities maintained price controls on bread and intensified market inspections, but violations like underweight loaves and black-market flour sales persisted, highlighting the market's fragility under political division.

Table of content

1. Disclaimer
2. Terms of use of the report
3. Product codes in the statistical classifications used in the report
4. Key Market Indicators and Trends
1. 4.1. Key Market Indicators
  1. 4.1.1. In kind
    1. 4.1.1.1. Production, 2018-2023
    2. 4.1.1.2. Imports, 2018-2024
    3. 4.1.1.3. Exports, 2018-2024
    4. 4.1.1.4. Market size, 2018-2023
2. 4.2. Market Trends and Factors
5. Production
1. 5.1. Production in Libya
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in Libya in kind, 2018-2023, t
  2. 5.1.2. Annual dynamics of production in Libya in value, 2018-2023, $ US
2. 5.2. Global production by Country, 2018-2023
  1. 5.2.1. Annual dynamics of production by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023, t
  2. 5.2.2. Dynamics of production structure by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023
  3. 5.2.3. Annual dynamics of production by country in kind, 2018-2023, t
  4. 5.2.4. Structure of production by countries in kind, 2018-2023
  5. 5.2.5. Dynamics of peoduction structure by countries in kind, 2018-2023
6. Imports
1. 6.1. Imports (Direct Data*)
  1. 6.1.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 6.1.2. Imports in kind, t
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Libya in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Libya by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 6.1.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.1.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Libya in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Libya by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 6.1.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.1.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 6.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Libya, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Libya by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
2. 6.2. Imports (Mirror Data)
  1. 6.2.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 6.2.2. Imports in kind, t
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Libya in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Libya by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 6.2.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.2.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Libya in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Libya by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 6.2.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.2.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 6.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Libya, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Libya by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
7. Exports
1. 7.1. Exports (Direct Data*)
  1. 7.1.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 7.1.2. Exports in kind, t
    1. 7.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Libya in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Libya by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 7.1.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.1.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Libya in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Libya by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 7.1.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.1.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 7.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Libya, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Libya by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
2. 7.2. Exports (Mirror Data)
  1. 7.2.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 7.2.2. Exports in kind, t
    1. 7.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Libya in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Libya by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 7.2.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.2.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Libya in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Libya by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 7.2.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.2.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 7.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Libya, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Libya by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
8. Trade balance
1. 8.1. Trade balance (Direct Data)
  1. 8.1.1. In kind, t
  2. 8.1.2. In value, K $ US
2. 8.2. Trade balance (Mirror Data)
  1. 8.2.1. In kind, t
  2. 8.2.2. In value, K $ US
9. Top buying and selling countries, 2018-2024
1. 9.1. Direct Data
  1. 9.1.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.1.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers
2. 9.2. Mirror Data
  1. 9.2.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.2.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers

Production bread in Libya

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Top producers of bread, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of bread, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

In 2019, Libya produced 3 003 tonnes of bread, which increased by 9.9% in 2020. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, production grew by 10.8%, averaging 3.5% per year. The highest production level was recorded in 2018 at 3 048 tonnes, marking a 12.4% increase. In contrast, 2019 saw the largest decline of 10.3%.

Annual dynamics of production in Libya in kind, 2017-2020, t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	12.4%	(10.3%)	9.9%	3.5%

Source: SHEV.io

Exports bread from Libya

Exports in kind, t

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Libya in kind, 2017-2020, t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	n/a	n/a	n/a	-

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, exports in kind were predominantly directed to Niger, which accounted for 98.0% of total flows.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's exports from Libya in kind, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, K $ US

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Libya in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	n/a	n/a	n/a	-

Source: SHEV.io

Between 2017 and 2020, Niger and Poland were the top two destinations for Libya's bread exports in value terms, together representing 100.0% of total exports.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's exports from Libya in value, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Imports bread to Libya

Imports in kind, t

The market showed an unstable trend throughout the period. Import volumes varied 3.1 times, with the lowest point in 2017 and the peak in 2019. In 2020, Libya imported {value_last_year} tonnes of bread, a sharp decline of 25.2% compared to the previous year. The maximum value was recorded in 2019 at 15 848 tonnes, which also saw the largest increase of 83.5%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Libya in kind, 2017-2020, t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	66.6%	83.5%	(25.2%)	31.8%

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, Turkey, Italy, and Egypt were the main sources for Libya's bread imports in kind, accounting for 70.9% of total imports. Turkey contributed 43.6%, Italy 16.0%, and Egypt 11.3%.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to Libya in kind, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, K $ US

The data indicates irregular changes, reflecting a volatile market environment. Import values varied 3.7 times, with the minimum in 2017 and the maximum in 2019. In 2020, Libya's bread imports amounted to 31 817 thousand US dollars, a steep decrease of 26.1% from 2019. The highest value was recorded in 2019 at 43 037 thousand US dollars, while 2018 saw the largest increase of 104.0%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Libya in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	104.0%	82.5%	(26.1%)	40.1%

Source: SHEV.io

Throughout 2017–2020, Turkey, Italy, and Egypt formed the core group for Libya's bread imports in value terms, together representing 65.8% of total flows. Turkey accounted for 34.7%, Italy for 19.1%, and Egypt for 12.0%.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to Libya in value, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io