Dried mushrooms market in Africa

Earlier Report Observations

The market for dried mushrooms in Africa expanded significantly from 2018 to 2023, with total market volume growing from 2 011 t to 6 223 t. This growth was driven by a steady increase in domestic production, which rose from 1 732 t to 3 029 t over the period, and a sharp surge in imports to 3 379 t in 2023. The most pronounced jump occurred in 2023, when market size more than doubled compared to the previous year.

In 2024, imports declined to 968 t, while export volumes remained relatively stable. This shift coincided with challenging summer drought conditions in parts of Africa, which affected general agricultural output and could have constrained raw material availability for dried mushrooms. Simultaneously, government efforts to improve fresh produce market access and evolving consumer focus on food safety and product diversity continued to shape the agricultural market landscape.

Production dried mushrooms in Africa

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Top producers of dried mushrooms, 2017-2020

World map of production of dried mushrooms, 2017-2020

Africa's dried mushroom production has grown for the third year in a row. In 2020, the continent produced 2,284 tonnes of dried mushrooms, marking a solid 18.0% increase from the previous year. Looking at the period from 2017 to 2020, production rose by 43.8%, with an average annual growth rate of 12.9%.

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

Exports dried mushrooms from Africa

Exports in kind, t

The data shows irregular changes, pointing to a volatile market environment. Exports varied significantly, dropping to a low in 2019 and then surging to a high in 2020, with a 6.6-fold difference between these years. In 2020, Africa's dried mushroom exports reached 175.1 tonnes, a sharp increase of 207.1% compared to 2019. The lowest export volume was recorded in 2019 at 57.0 tonnes, and the largest decline occurred that same year, with a drop of 77.0%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, the main buyers of Africa's dried mushrooms by volume were Vietnam (37.1% of exports), Mexico (15.1% of exports), and the United States (5.1% of exports). Together, these three countries accounted for 57.3% of total exports in kind.

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

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

Exports in value, K $ US

The data reveals irregular changes, indicating a volatile market environment. Export values fluctuated widely, from a high in 2018 to a low in 2020, with a 9.8-fold variation. In 2020, Africa's dried mushroom exports amounted to 222 thousand US dollars, which is 47.6% less than the previous year. The peak value was recorded in 2018 at 2,171 thousand US dollars. The largest decline occurred in 2019, with an 80.5% drop, while the biggest increase was in 2018, with a 32.6% rise.

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

Between 2017 and 2020, Africa's dried mushroom exports in value terms were spread across a wide range of partner countries. China (39.9% of exports), Mexico (5.9% of exports), and Kuwait (3.9% of exports) together accounted for just 49.8% of total export flows.

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

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

Imports dried mushrooms to Africa

Imports in kind, t

In 2020, Africa's cross-border shipments of dried mushrooms totaled 394.3 tonnes, reflecting a sharp year-on-year drop of 26.5%. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, imports decreased by 46%, with an average annual decline of 18.6%. The largest decline was recorded in 2018 at 27.9%, while the largest increase occurred in 2019, with a modest rise of 1.8%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, the geographical structure of Africa's dried mushroom imports by volume was highly diversified. China (41.6% of imports), Italy (5.0% of imports), and Portugal (2.4% of imports) together made up only 49.0% of total flows, with the remaining 51.0% distributed among numerous smaller partner countries.

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

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

Imports in value, K $ US

Africa's imported dried mushroom volumes have declined for the third consecutive year. In 2020, the continent imported 1,715 thousand US dollars worth of dried mushrooms, marking a strong reduction of 10.8% compared to the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, imports decreased by 25.5%, equating to an annualized rate of decline of 9.3%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, the country structure of Africa's dried mushroom imports in value terms was strongly focused on China, which accounted for 75.4% of total flows. Other partners made up the remaining volume.

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

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