Market research

Bread market in Sub-Saharan Africa

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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"Sub-Saharan Africa" region includes following countries:

Cabo Verde

Benin

Gambia

Ghana

Guinea

Côte d'Ivoire

Liberia

Mali

Mauritania

Niger

Nigeria

Guinea-Bissau

Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha

Senegal

Sierra Leone

Togo

Burkina Faso

British Indian Ocean Territory

Burundi

Comoros

Mayotte

Ethiopia

Eritrea

French Southern Territories

Djibouti

Kenya

Madagascar

Malawi

Mauritius

Mozambique

Reunion

Rwanda

Seychelles

Somalia

Zimbabwe

South Sudan

Uganda

Tanzania

Zambia

Angola

Cameroon

Central African Republic

Chad

Congo

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Equatorial Guinea

Gabon

Sao Tome and Principe

Botswana

Lesotho

Namibia

South Africa

Eswatini

Earlier Report Observations

The bread market volume in Sub-Saharan Africa declined from 504.5 thousand tons in 2018 to 422.6 thousand tons in 2023, though with notable fluctuations. After an initial drop to 421.9 thousand tons in 2019, consumption recovered to 450.2 thousand tons in 2020 before contracting again.

Production levels held steady around 370-390 thousand tons until 2021 but then fell sharply to 308.9 thousand tons in 2022 and 288.3 thousand tons in 2023. Imports, which had decreased from 158.6 to 72.1 thousand tons between 2018 and 2020, rebounded strongly to 170.7 thousand tons by 2023. Exports also rose, from 13.1 thousand tons in 2020 to 36.4 thousand tons in 2023, reducing net domestic supply.

The steep market reduction in 2022 reflected both lower domestic output and increased exports, while the 2023 partial recovery was driven by higher import volumes despite continued weak production.

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 Sub-Saharan Africa
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in Sub-Saharan Africa in kind, 2018-2023, K t
2. 5.2. Global production by Country, 2018-2023
  1. 5.2.1. Annual dynamics of production by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023, K 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, K 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, K t
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Cabo Verde in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Cabo Verde by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 6.1.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.1.3. Imports in value, M $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Cabo Verde in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Cabo Verde by countries, 2018-2024, M $ 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 Cabo Verde, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Cabo Verde 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, K t
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Cabo Verde in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Cabo Verde by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 6.2.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.2.3. Imports in value, M $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Cabo Verde in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Cabo Verde by countries, 2018-2024, M $ 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 Cabo Verde, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Cabo Verde 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, K t
    1. 7.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Cabo Verde in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Cabo Verde by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 7.1.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.1.3. Exports in value, M $ US
    1. 7.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Cabo Verde in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Cabo Verde by countries, 2018-2024, M $ 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 Cabo Verde, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Cabo Verde 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, K t
    1. 7.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Cabo Verde in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Cabo Verde by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 7.2.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.2.3. Exports in value, M $ US
    1. 7.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Cabo Verde in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Cabo Verde by countries, 2018-2024, M $ 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 Cabo Verde, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Cabo Verde by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
8. Trade balance
1. 8.1. Trade balance (Direct Data)
  1. 8.1.1. In kind, K t
  2. 8.1.2. In value, M $ US
2. 8.2. Trade balance (Mirror Data)
  1. 8.2.1. In kind, K t
  2. 8.2.2. In value, M $ 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 Sub-Saharan Africa

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of bread, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of bread, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

In 2019, bread production in Sub-Saharan Africa experienced a slight decline of 0.3%. However, in 2020, output rebounded significantly, reaching 391.2 thousand tons—a 6.2% increase compared to the previous year. Over the entire 2017-2020 period, production grew by 7.6%, translating to an average annual growth rate of 2.5%.

Annual dynamics of production in Sub-Saharan Africa in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	1.7%	(0.3%)	6.2%	2.5%

Source: SHEV.io

In value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Bread production in Sub-Saharan Africa has been declining for three consecutive years. In 2020, the value of bread output stood at 1 858 million US dollars, marking a 7.0% decrease from 2019. From 2017 to 2020, production value fell by 26.6%, with an average annual decline of 9.8%.

Annual dynamics of production in Sub-Saharan Africa in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(9.6%)	(12.7%)	(7.0%)	(9.8%)

Source: SHEV.io

Exports bread from Sub-Saharan Africa

Exports in kind, K t

Bread exports from Sub-Saharan Africa showed significant volatility during this period. The lowest export volume was recorded in 2017, while the peak occurred in 2019 at 24.3 thousand tons. In 2020, exports dropped sharply to 13.1 thousand tons—a 46.1% decrease from 2019. The most substantial increase happened in 2018, with exports surging by 160.2%. Overall, the gap between the highest and lowest export volumes was 2.7-fold.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Sub-Saharan Africa in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	160.2%	2.5%	(46.1%)	12.8%

Source: SHEV.io

Between 2017 and 2020, bread exports from Sub-Saharan Africa were highly diversified. The United States accounted for 7.5% of export volume, the United Arab Emirates for 7.0%, and Australia for 3.3%. Together, these three countries represented just 17.8% of total exports, with no single nation dominating the market.

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

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's exports from Sub-Saharan Africa in kind, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, M $ US

Bread exports from Sub-Saharan Africa declined for the second year in a row. In 2020, export value reached 50.3 million US dollars, down 13.5% from 2019. The highest value was recorded in 2018 at 60.8 million US dollars, which also saw the largest annual increase of 7.8%. From 2017 to 2020, total export value decreased by 10.8%, equivalent to an average annual decline of 3.7%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Sub-Saharan Africa in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	7.8%	(4.4%)	(13.5%)	(3.7%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, bread exports from Sub-Saharan Africa in value terms were spread across numerous markets. The United States held an 8.0% share, the United Arab Emirates 5.4%, and the United Kingdom 4.1%. Combined, these three countries accounted for only 17.4% of total export value, reflecting a broad distribution.

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

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's exports from Sub-Saharan Africa in value, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Imports bread to Sub-Saharan Africa

Imports in kind, K t

Bread imports into Sub-Saharan Africa exhibited notable fluctuations. The lowest import volume occurred in 2020 at 72.1 thousand tons, representing a 7.2% decrease from the previous year. The peak was in 2018 at 158.6 thousand tons, which also saw the largest annual increase of 80.6%. In 2019, imports fell by 51.0%, the steepest decline during the period. Overall, import volumes varied by 2.2 times between the high in 2018 and the low in 2020.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Sub-Saharan Africa in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	80.6%	(51.0%)	(7.2%)	(6.4%)

Source: SHEV.io

Between 2017 and 2020, bread imports into Sub-Saharan Africa came from a wide range of suppliers. Brazil was the largest source, accounting for 19.4% of import volume, followed by Turkey at 11.6% and India at 10.4%. Together, these three countries represented 41.4% of total imports, indicating a diversified supply structure.

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

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to Sub-Saharan Africa in kind, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, M $ US

Bread imports into Sub-Saharan Africa declined for the second consecutive year. In 2020, import value totaled 143.4 million US dollars, down 7.9% year-over-year. The highest value was recorded in 2018 at 167.0 million US dollars, which also experienced the largest annual increase of 5.6%. From 2017 to 2020, total import value decreased by 9.3%, equivalent to an average annual decline of 3.2%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Sub-Saharan Africa in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	5.6%	(6.8%)	(7.9%)	(3.2%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, bread imports into Sub-Saharan Africa in value terms were sourced from a diverse set of countries. France accounted for 14.3% of import value, Malaysia for 9.9%, and Turkey for 5.3%. Together, these three suppliers represented just 29.5% of total import value, highlighting the broad distribution across partners.

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

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to Sub-Saharan Africa in value, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io