Market research

Cotton seeds market in Western Africa

Release date: Mar 28, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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"Western Africa" region includes following countries:

Cabo Verde

Benin

Gambia

Ghana

Guinea

Côte d'Ivoire

Liberia

Mali

Mauritania

Niger

Nigeria

Guinea-Bissau

Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha

Senegal

Sierra Leone

Togo

Burkina Faso

Earlier Report Observations

From 2018 to 2023, the West African cotton seeds market experienced notable fluctuations in both production and market volume. Production peaked at 1 781 thousand tonnes in 2021, then contracted sharply to 1 321 thousand tonnes in 2022, before recovering to 1 485 thousand tonnes in 2023. Market size followed a similar pattern, dropping to 1 277 thousand tonnes in 2022 and rising to 1 432 thousand tonnes the following year.

The production rebound in 2023 after the previous season's downturn contributed to abundant cotton supply from West Africa, which in turn influenced global cotton prices downward. This recovery in output directly supported the expansion of the local market for cotton seeds.

By 2024, the region's cotton sector faced increased competition from Brazil as the world's top exporter, while local processing of cotton seeds encountered challenges due to competition from imported palm oil, supply leaks into unofficial channels, and the privatization of oil mills in countries like Chad, affecting the industrial crushing segment.

Table of content

1. Disclaimer
2. Terms of use of the report
3. Product codes in the statistical classifications used in the report
4. Key Market Indicators and Trends
1. 4.1. Key Market Indicators
  1. 4.1.1. In kind
    1. 4.1.1.1. Production, 2018-2023
    2. 4.1.1.2. Imports, 2018-2024
    3. 4.1.1.3. Exports, 2018-2024
    4. 4.1.1.4. Market size, 2018-2023
2. 4.2. Market Trends and Factors
5. Production
1. 5.1. Production in Western Africa
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in Western Africa in kind, 2018-2023, K t
2. 5.2. Global production by Country, 2018-2023
  1. 5.2.1. Annual dynamics of production by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023, K t
  2. 5.2.2. Dynamics of production structure by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023
  3. 5.2.3. Annual dynamics of production by country in kind, 2018-2023, K t
  4. 5.2.4. Structure of production by countries in kind, 2018-2023
  5. 5.2.5. Dynamics of peoduction structure by countries in kind, 2018-2023
6. Imports
1. 6.1. Imports (Direct Data*)
  1. 6.1.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 6.1.2. Imports in kind, K t
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Cabo Verde in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Cabo Verde by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 6.1.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.1.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Cabo Verde in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Cabo Verde by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 6.1.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.1.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 6.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Cabo Verde, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Cabo Verde by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
2. 6.2. Imports (Mirror Data)
  1. 6.2.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 6.2.2. Imports in kind, K t
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Cabo Verde in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Cabo Verde by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 6.2.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.2.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Cabo Verde in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Cabo Verde by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 6.2.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.2.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 6.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Cabo Verde, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Cabo Verde by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
7. Exports
1. 7.1. Exports (Direct Data*)
  1. 7.1.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 7.1.2. Exports in kind, K t
    1. 7.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Cabo Verde in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Cabo Verde by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 7.1.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.1.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Cabo Verde in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Cabo Verde by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 7.1.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.1.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 7.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Cabo Verde, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Cabo Verde by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
2. 7.2. Exports (Mirror Data)
  1. 7.2.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 7.2.2. Exports in kind, K t
    1. 7.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Cabo Verde in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Cabo Verde by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 7.2.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.2.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Cabo Verde in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Cabo Verde by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 7.2.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.2.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 7.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Cabo Verde, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Cabo Verde by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
8. Trade balance
1. 8.1. Trade balance (Direct Data)
  1. 8.1.1. In kind, K t
  2. 8.1.2. In value, K $ US
2. 8.2. Trade balance (Mirror Data)
  1. 8.2.1. In kind, K t
  2. 8.2.2. In value, K $ US
9. Top buying and selling countries, 2018-2024
1. 9.1. Direct Data
  1. 9.1.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.1.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers
2. 9.2. Mirror Data
  1. 9.2.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.2.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers

Production cotton seeds in Western Africa

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of cotton seeds, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of cotton seeds, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

In 2020, Western Africa produced 1 467 thousand tonnes of cotton seeds, marking a 13.3% decrease from the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, production fell by 14.4%, which translates to an average annual decline of 5.1%. The most significant increase occurred in 2019, with a rise of 5.2%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(6.2%)	5.2%	(13.3%)	(5.1%)

Source: SHEV.io

Exports cotton seeds from Western Africa

Exports in kind, t

The market showed an unstable trend over the period. Exports peaked in 2017 and reached their lowest point in 2018, with a 3.3-fold difference between these years. In 2020, cross-border shipments of cotton seeds from Western Africa totaled 53 103 tonnes, representing a sharp drop of 14.3% year-over-year. The minimum value was recorded in 2018 at 25 650 tonnes. The largest decline occurred in 2018, falling by 69.8%, while the largest increase was in 2019, rising by 141.5%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(69.8%)	141.5%	(14.3%)	(14.5%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, the main destinations for cotton seed exports from Western Africa in kind were India (4.4% of exports), Turkey (1.0%), and Spain (1.0%), together accounting for 6.4% of total flows.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, K $ US

Western Africa's cotton seed export value increased for the third consecutive year. In 2020, exports reached 42 470 thousand US dollars, showing a slight increase of 1.5% compared to the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, exports grew by 64.7%, equivalent to an average annual rate of 18.1%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	11.2%	45.9%	1.5%	18.1%

Source: SHEV.io

The market base for exports in value terms from 2017 to 2020 was broad, with India (7.0% of exports), Saudi Arabia (1.7%), and Spain (1.4%) jointly accounting for just 10.1% of total flows. The remaining 89.9% was distributed among numerous other countries.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports cotton seeds to Western Africa

Imports in kind, t

There were noticeable fluctuations in market performance during the period. Import volumes hit a low in 2018 and peaked in 2020, with a top-to-bottom ratio of 3.9 times. In 2020, cotton seed imports into Western Africa amounted to 68 856 tonnes, which is 163.6% higher than in 2019. The minimum value was recorded in 2018 at 17 563 tonnes. The largest decline occurred in 2018, falling by 37.8%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(37.8%)	48.7%	163.6%	34.6%

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, Cameroon and China together accounted for the main share of imports in kind, representing 1.3% of total flows.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, K $ US

The data reveals irregular changes, indicating a volatile market environment. A 5-fold variation was observed between the minimum in 2019 and the maximum in 2020. In 2020, cotton seed shipments to Western Africa from abroad reached 35 755 thousand US dollars, corresponding to a sharp increase of 401.5% compared to 2019. The minimum value was recorded in 2019 at 7 129 thousand US dollars. The largest decline occurred in 2019, falling by 20.3%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(9.6%)	(20.3%)	401.5%	53.5%

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, Ethiopia and Cameroon led the list of markets for cotton seed imports in value terms to Western Africa, together accounting for 5.3% of total flows.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io