Butter, dairy spreads and milk fats market in Burkina Faso

Earlier Report Observations

The market for butter, dairy spreads, and milk fats in Burkina Faso saw initial growth supported by private industrial expansion. In 2018, the launch of ADI PROD SA, a private agro-industrial unit with a daily shea nut processing capacity of 300 t, bolstered domestic production of shea butter and related fats. This development, within an agri-food sector accounting for about 23% of GDP, helped drive market volume to 4 118 t by 2019. While domestic output dipped slightly in 2020, imports surged dramatically, pushing total market size to 4 583 t that year.

Market volume peaked at 5 344 t in 2021, fueled by a sharp rise in imports to over 2 000 t. This surge coincided with heightened vulnerability to global exogenous shocks, as the country exports 70% of its food commodities, making supply chains and prices sensitive to worldwide transport and raw material cost fluctuations. In response, a 2023 presidential initiative mobilized significant human resources to intensify agricultural production, aiming to improve the availability of raw materials for butter and dairy fat manufacturing and supporting steady domestic output in subsequent years.

By 2024, policy shifted decisively toward import substitution and food sovereignty. The government created a state-owned dairy company, Faso Kosam, with a production capacity of 500 liters of milk per day, explicitly aimed at reducing dairy imports. Concurrently, regulatory oversight tightened as consumer control brigades removed unfit dairy products from the market, enforcing stricter quality standards for both local and imported goods.

Production butter, dairy spreads and milk fats in Burkina Faso

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Top producers of butter, dairy spreads and milk fats, 2017-2020

World map of production of butter, dairy spreads and milk fats, 2017-2020

Burkina Faso produced 3 103 tonnes of butter, dairy spreads, and milk fats in 2020, marking a 6.3% decrease from the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, production declined by 2.9%, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 1.0%. The highest production level was recorded in 2019 at 3 311 tonnes, which also saw the largest annual increase of 4.8%.

Annual dynamics of production in Burkina Faso in kind, 2017-2020, t

Exports butter, dairy spreads and milk fats from Burkina Faso

Exports in kind, t

In 2020, Burkina Faso exported 61 tonnes of butter, dairy spreads, and milk fats, representing a substantial 371.0% increase compared to 2019.

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

From 2017 to 2020, the Netherlands was the primary buyer of butter, dairy spreads, and milk fats from Burkina Faso, accounting for 80.1% of total exports in volume. Other trading partners held relatively smaller shares during this period.

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

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

Exports in value, K $ US

Burkina Faso's exports of butter, dairy spreads, and milk fats reached 141 thousand US dollars in 2020, showing a dramatic 3 318.7% rise from the previous year.

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

During 2017-2020, the export market was highly concentrated, with the Netherlands alone responsible for 96.1% of total exports in value terms.

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

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

Imports butter, dairy spreads and milk fats to Burkina Faso

Imports in kind, t

Burkina Faso's imports of butter, dairy spreads, and milk fats increased for the third consecutive year. In 2020, imports amounted to 1 541 tonnes, reflecting a sharp 88.0% increase over 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, imports surged by 800.7%, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 108.1%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Ghana (42.9% of imports in volume), Côte d'Ivoire (28.2%), and France (17.7%) were the main sources for butter, dairy spreads, and milk fats imports to Burkina Faso. Together, these three countries accounted for 88.8% of total import flows.

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

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

Imports in value, K $ US

Burkina Faso's imports of butter, dairy spreads, and milk fats rose for the third year in a row. In 2020, imports totaled 141 thousand US dollars, which is 92.8% higher than in 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, imports grew by 278.3%, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 55.8%.

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

Between 2017 and 2020, France and Ghana together absorbed 86.8% of the total value of butter, dairy spreads, and milk fats imports to Burkina Faso, with the remaining share distributed among smaller markets.

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

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