Brown rice market in ECOWAS

Earlier Report Observations

The brown rice market in ECOWAS contracted sharply between 2018 and 2020, with volume falling from 5.7 million metric tons to 1.9 million metric tons. A steady recovery followed, bringing the market to 2.8 million metric tons by 2023. This movement was driven by substantial swings in domestic production, which dropped markedly in 2020, and import volumes, which increased in subsequent years.

From 2021 onward, the market expanded consistently as imports grew to supplement domestic supply. The period saw a shift in supply sources, with import volumes rising significantly after 2020, supporting the overall market recovery despite production levels remaining below pre-2020 figures.

In 2024, the market is shaped by increased health awareness highlighting brown rice's nutritional benefits, product innovation in ready-to-cook variants, and global trade dynamics, including export restrictions from India affecting international supply chains.

Production brown rice in ECOWAS

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of brown rice, 2017-2020

World map of production of brown rice, 2017-2020

ECOWAS's brown rice production has declined for the third year in a row. In 2020, the region produced 1 471 thousand tons of brown rice, marking a sharp 67.6% drop compared to 2019. Looking at the period from 2017 to 2020, production fell by 73.6%, which translates to an average annual decrease of 35.8%.

Annual dynamics of production in ECOWAS in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Exports brown rice from ECOWAS

Exports in kind, K t

The market displayed significant volatility during the observed period. Import levels varied dramatically, with a 3 662-fold difference between the peak in 2019 and the low in 2017. In 2020, ECOWAS's foreign brown rice supplies dropped to 0.0 thousand tons, representing a steep year-over-year decline of 99.5%. The highest value was recorded in 2019 at 5.9 thousand tons, which also saw the largest increase of 107 086.1%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Thailand was the top buyer of brown rice from ECOWAS, accounting for 1.4% of total export flows.

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

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

Exports in value, M $ US

The data shows irregular changes, pointing to a volatile market environment. Export volumes reached their lowest point in 2018 and peaked in 2019, with a 12.7-fold difference between these years. In 2020, brown rice exports from ECOWAS totaled 1.8 million US dollars, down 67.8% from the previous year. The minimum value was 0.4 million US dollars in 2018, while the maximum was 5.6 million US dollars in 2019, which also experienced the largest increase of 1 169.4%.

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

Between 2017 and 2020, Thailand was the primary market for brown rice from ECOWAS in value terms, absorbing 1.6% of total exports.

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

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

Imports brown rice to ECOWAS

Imports in kind, K t

The market showed an unstable trend throughout the timeframe. Import volumes hit their lowest point in 2019 and peaked in 2017, with a 3.1-fold difference between these years. In 2020, ECOWAS's brown rice imports amounted to 406.7 thousand tons, a 90.0% increase compared to the prior year. The minimum value was recorded in 2019 at 214.1 thousand tons, and the largest decline occurred in 2018 with a drop of 44.1%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Thailand, India, and Myanmar were the leading sources for brown rice imports to ECOWAS in volume terms. Thailand accounted for 44.6% of imports, India for 34.8%, and Myanmar for 16.0%, together making up 95.3% of total flows.

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

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

Imports in value, M $ US

Volatility characterized the market during these years. Import volumes varied 4.4 times from the high in 2017 to the low in 2019. In 2020, cross-border shipments of brown rice to ECOWAS reached 175.9 million US dollars, indicating a sharp year-over-year rise of 110.9%. The minimum value was 83.4 million US dollars in 2019, which also saw the largest decline of 56.6%.

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

Over the period from 2017 to 2020, Thailand and India were the main sources for imports in value terms, jointly accounting for 85.0% of total flows, with the remaining share distributed among other markets.

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

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