Cheese and curd market in Sub-Saharan Africa

Earlier Report Observations

From 2018 to 2023, the cheese and curd market in Sub-Saharan Africa underwent a significant shift. Market volume fell dramatically from 851 thousand tons in 2018 to 422 thousand tons in 2019, a drop of roughly 50%. After this contraction, the market stabilized in the range of 426 to 433 thousand tons, indicating a new, lower baseline for consumption.

Domestic production mirrored this trend, declining from 769 thousand tons in 2018 to 379 thousand tons in 2019 before gradually recovering to 409 thousand tons by 2023. International trade also changed markedly: imports were cut by more than half after 2018, while exports grew from a negligible level to 8.6 thousand tons in 2023 and further to 11.7 thousand tons in 2024.

Production cheese and curd in Sub-Saharan Africa

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of cheese and curd, 2017-2020

World map of production of cheese and curd, 2017-2020

In 2020, Sub-Saharan Africa produced 402.4 thousand tonnes of cheese and curd, marking a 6.1% increase from the previous year. However, looking at the broader period from 2017 to 2020, production actually fell by 40%, with an average annual decline of 15.7%. The lowest production level was recorded in 2019 at 379.4 thousand tonnes, while the peak occurred in 2018 with 768.6 thousand tonnes. The most significant drop happened in 2019, when production decreased by 50.6%, whereas the largest rise was in 2018 with a 14.5% increase.

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

Exports cheese and curd from Sub-Saharan Africa

Exports in kind, t

The market exhibited notable volatility during the observed period. Export volumes reached their lowest point in 2018 at 657 tonnes and peaked in 2019 at 3,384 tonnes, representing a 5.2-fold difference between these extremes. In 2020, Sub-Saharan Africa's cheese and curd exports totaled 2,842 tonnes, reflecting a substantial decline of 16.0% compared to 2019. The sharpest decrease occurred in 2018, falling by 40.9%, while the most dramatic increase was in 2019, surging by 415.4%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Saudi Arabia emerged as the top destination for Sub-Saharan Africa's cheese and curd exports in volume terms, accounting for 2.6% of the total export flows.

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

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

Exports in value, M $ US

Cheese and curd exports from Sub-Saharan Africa declined for the second consecutive year. In 2020, the region exported $40.8 million worth of these products, down 0.7% from the previous year. The highest export value was recorded in 2018 at $42.9 million. The most significant decrease occurred in 2019 with a 4.2% drop, while the largest increase was in 2018, rising by 4.6%.

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

Between 2017 and 2020, Saudi Arabia was the leading market for Sub-Saharan Africa's cheese and curd exports in value terms, absorbing 2.2% of the total export value.

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

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

Imports cheese and curd to Sub-Saharan Africa

Imports in kind, t

The data shows irregular fluctuations, pointing to a volatile market environment. Imports hit their highest level in 2018 at 83,252 tonnes and dropped to their lowest in 2020 at 33,455 tonnes, a 2.5-fold variation. In 2020, Sub-Saharan Africa imported 33,455 tonnes of cheese and curd, a decrease of 27.4% from the prior year. The steepest decline was in 2019, falling by 44.6%, while the largest increase was in 2018, jumping by 79.6%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, the structure of cheese and curd imports into Sub-Saharan Africa was quite diversified. Portugal (26.5% of import volume), France (13.3%), and Germany (6.1%) together accounted for only 45.9% of total imports, with the remaining 54.1% spread across numerous smaller markets.

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

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

Imports in value, M $ US

In 2020, Sub-Saharan Africa imported $166.0 million worth of cheese and curd, which is 21.4% less than the previous year. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, imports decreased by 22%, equivalent to an average annual decline of 8.0%. The largest increase was recorded in 2019, rising by 3.6%.

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

Between 2017 and 2020, cheese and curd imports into Sub-Saharan Africa in value terms were characterized by a wide distribution across markets. France (18.6% of import value), Portugal (7.2%), and Australia (7.2%) together made up only 33.0% of total imports, with the rest dispersed among various other countries.

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

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