Coffee, husks, skins and substitutes market in Gabon

Earlier Report Observations

The coffee, husks, skins and substitutes market in Gabon reached 271 thousand tonnes in 2018, heavily reliant on imports. That year, the state-owned La Caisse Cacao/Café was established, holding a monopoly on marketing Gabonese coffee and setting an ambitious target of 1,000 tonnes of marketable production under the government's economic diversification policy. Market volume then contracted to 226 thousand tonnes in 2019, primarily due to a reduction in imports, while domestic production remained steady near 104 thousand tonnes. A modest recovery to 232 thousand tonnes followed in 2020, coinciding with the creation of the Gabonese Food Security Agency (AGASA) to bolster local production and food security.

The market returned to 270 thousand tonnes in 2021 as measures to stabilize purchase prices for coffee growers supported local output, and import volumes increased. In 2022, market size declined to 241 thousand tonnes against a backdrop of significant food price inflation in Gabon, which dampened consumer demand for coffee. The market then expanded sharply to a peak of 340 thousand tonnes in 2023, driven by a memorandum of understanding with the FAO to improve post-harvest management and marketing, alongside the development of a market information system, which facilitated import flows and enhanced coffee availability.

Production coffee, husks, skins and substitutes in Gabon

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Top producers of coffee, husks, skins and substitutes, 2017-2020

World map of production of coffee, husks, skins and substitutes, 2017-2020

Coffee, husks, skins, and substitutes production in Gabon declined for the second consecutive year. In 2020, production amounted to 103.7 t, showing no significant change compared to 2019. The highest production level was recorded in 2018 at 104.8 t. The largest decline occurred in 2019 with a decrease of 0.8%, while the largest increase was in 2018 with a rise of 2.3%.

Annual dynamics of production in Gabon in kind, 2017-2020, t

Exports coffee, husks, skins and substitutes from Gabon

Exports in kind, t

The market exhibited an unstable trend throughout the period. Exports reached their lowest point in 2017 and peaked in 2019, with a 5.2-fold difference between these years. In 2020, coffee, husks, skins, and substitutes shipments from Gabon totaled 0.4 t, marking a sharp year-on-year decrease of 78.6%. The highest export volume was recorded in 2019 at 1.9 t, which represented the largest increase of 388.5%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, France accounted for 74.1% of total coffee, husks, skins, and substitutes exports from Gabon, with the remaining share distributed among various smaller destinations.

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

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

Exports in value, K $ US

The market showed signs of volatility over the observed period. Exports hit their lowest point in 2017 and peaked in 2019, with an 8.6-fold gap between these years. In 2020, coffee, husks, skins, and substitutes exports from Gabon amounted to 0.9 K $ US, indicating a steep reduction of 64.9% compared to the previous year. The maximum value was recorded in 2019 at 2.6 K $ US, which saw the largest increase of 217.3%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, the two leading markets—France and Belgium—together accounted for 81.1% of total exports in value terms, while the remainder was spread across a wide range of other countries.

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

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

Imports coffee, husks, skins and substitutes to Gabon

Imports in kind, t

After a two-year decline, coffee, husks, skins, and substitutes imports into Gabon increased. In 2020, imports totaled 128.5 t, showing a moderate gain of 3.4% compared to the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, imports decreased by 69.8%, equating to an annualized rate of 32.9%. The lowest import volume was recorded in 2019 at 124.3 t, with the largest decline occurring in 2018 at 60.9%.

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

Throughout 2017–2020, France (24.4% of imports in kind), China (18.7% of imports in kind), and India (12.1% of imports in kind) remained the key partners, together accounting for 55.2% of total import flows.

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

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

Imports in value, K $ US

After a two-year drop, foreign coffee, husks, skins, and substitutes supplies to Gabon increased. In 2020, imports amounted to 508.3 K $ US, marking a sharp rise of 58.8% compared to the previous year. Over the period 2017–2020, imports decreased by 33.2%, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.6%. The minimum value was recorded in 2019 at 320.0 K $ US, and the largest decline occurred in 2018 at 50.2%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, France (32.2% of imports in value terms), Switzerland (19.4% of imports in value terms), and Italy (9.8% of imports in value terms) remained the principal suppliers to Gabon, jointly accounting for 61.4% of total imports in value terms.

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

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