Butter, dairy spreads and milk fats market in Togo

Earlier Report Observations

Between 2018 and 2023, the market for butter, dairy spreads, and milk fats in Togo contracted from 384 t to 249 t, despite a steady rise in domestic production. This decline was primarily driven by a sharp reduction in imports following a peak in 2020, as government policies increasingly favored local supply over foreign purchases. The groundwork was laid by the 2018-2022 National Development Plan, which included measures to modernize dairy production and control transhumance for better traceability of local output.

Domestic production grew from 28 t in 2018 to 32 t in 2023, supported by initiatives like the 2019 'Top Produits du Terroir' program to valorize locally processed and packaged foods. The introduction of the ECOWAS Common External Tariff in 2023 and the ongoing agro-food industrialization policy reinforced this trend by making imports less attractive and stimulating investment in local processing units. Additionally, the 2024 ban on exporting essential consumer goods and support for building new markets further secured domestic supply and distribution channels.

The validation of an agri-food exporter registry and a workshop on national standards in 2024 aimed to enhance the competitiveness of Togolese products for regional and international trade. These steps, part of a broader industrial push, helped gradually shift the market structure toward greater self-sufficiency, even as total market volume decreased due to the steep fall in imports.

Production butter, dairy spreads and milk fats in Togo

In kind, 2017-2020, kg

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

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

In 2020, Togo produced 29 120 kg of butter, dairy spreads, and milk fats, showing little change from the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, production grew by 3.3%, with an average annual growth rate of 1.1%. The lowest production level occurred in 2018 at 28 180 kg, while the highest was in 2019 at 29 140 kg. Production saw its steepest decline in 2018, dropping by 0.1%, and its largest increase in 2019, rising by 3.4%.

Annual dynamics of production in Togo in kind, 2017-2020, kg

Exports butter, dairy spreads and milk fats from Togo

Exports in kind, t

In 2020, Togo exported 0.3 t of butter, dairy spreads, and milk fats, marking a sharp decline of 99.3% compared to the previous year.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Togo's exports of butter, dairy spreads, and milk fats were almost entirely directed to the United States, which accounted for 97.1% of total exports in volume.

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

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

Exports in value, K $ US

Togo's exports of butter, dairy spreads, and milk fats totaled 0.3 K $ US in 2020, down by 97.5% from 2019.

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

Between 2017 and 2020, Burkina Faso and the United States together represented 97.5% of total export value, with the remaining flows distributed thinly across other markets.

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

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

Imports butter, dairy spreads and milk fats to Togo

Imports in kind, t

Following a two-year decline, Togo's imports of butter, dairy spreads, and milk fats increased in 2020, reaching 457.1 t, a 48.8% rise year-over-year. The lowest import volume was in 2019 at 307.2 t, with the largest decline occurring in 2018 at 21.6%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Ghana (59.1% of import volume), France (17.8%), and Indonesia (4.9%) were the primary sources for Togo's butter, dairy spreads, and milk fats imports, collectively making up 81.7% of total volume.

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

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

Imports in value, K $ US

Togo's imports of butter, dairy spreads, and milk fats increased for the third consecutive year in 2020, totaling 298.7 K $ US, a strong gain of 22.0% from the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, imports grew by 75.5%, equivalent to an annualized rate of 20.6%.

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

Throughout 2017-2020, France (57.2% of import value), Ghana (18.8%), and Indonesia (5.3%) remained key partners for Togo's butter, dairy spreads, and milk fats imports, together accounting for 81.3% of total value.

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

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