Dried shelled bambara beans market in Western Africa

Earlier Report Observations

The market for dried shelled bambara beans in West Africa showed considerable volatility between 2018 and 2023. After an initial decline to 151.6 thousand tonnes in 2019, volume surged to 185.5 thousand tonnes in 2020 before dropping sharply to 137.8 thousand tonnes in 2021. A strong recovery followed in 2022, lifting the market to 169.4 thousand tonnes, but it contracted again to 155.5 thousand tonnes in 2023.

The significant market growth in 2022 was supported by the launch of new consumer products like BamNut milk in the United States, which increased global demand for bambara beans as a plant-based ingredient. Simultaneously, improved local supply chains in countries like Senegal, with abundant stocks of cowpea (a local synonym for bambara beans), enhanced availability on regional markets. In Ghana, the approval of genetically modified Bt cowpea for cultivation in 2022 promised to transform local production potential.

The market dip in 2023 coincided with ongoing climatic pressures affecting production in arid growing regions, despite sectoral advances such as an 18% expansion in bambara bean flour output driven by demand for gluten-free ingredients. Looking ahead, a major global cowpea research conference in Cotonou during 2024 highlighted continued efforts to improve climate resilience and food security, while local market supply in Senegal benefited from the 2023/2024 harvests.

Production dried shelled bambara beans in Western Africa

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of dried shelled bambara beans, 2017-2020

World map of production of dried shelled bambara beans, 2017-2020

In 2019, dried shelled bambara bean production in Western Africa declined by 5.2%. However, in 2020, output rebounded strongly to 185.5 thousand tonnes, marking a 22.2% increase compared to 2019. Over the entire 2017-2020 period, production grew by 31%, with an average annual growth rate of 9.4%.

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

Exports dried shelled bambara beans from Western Africa

Exports in kind, t

Export volumes of dried shelled bambara beans from Western Africa showed significant volatility between 2017 and 2020. The lowest point occurred in 2017, while exports peaked in 2019 at 252.9 tonnes, representing a 204-fold difference from the 2017 minimum. In 2018, exports surged by 5 244.1%. However, by 2020, exports had plummeted to just 4.9 tonnes, a dramatic 98.1% decrease from 2019.

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

From 2017 to 2020, the United Kingdom and Spain were the dominant destinations for dried shelled bambara bean exports from Western Africa, with all other countries accounting for the remaining share.

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

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

Exports in value, K $ US

Export values for dried shelled bambara beans from Western Africa experienced substantial fluctuations between 2017 and 2020. The lowest value was recorded in 2017, while the peak occurred in 2018 at 111.6 thousand US dollars, showing a 279-fold amplitude between these extremes. In 2018, export values skyrocketed by 27 764.2%. However, by 2020, exports had dropped sharply to 11.0 thousand US dollars, representing an 89.9% decline from the previous year.

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

Between 2017 and 2020, Spain and the United Kingdom formed the dominant pair of markets for dried shelled bambara bean exports in value terms, jointly accounting for 86.6% of total flows, while other countries represented the remaining share.

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

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

Imports dried shelled bambara beans to Western Africa

Imports in kind, t

Import volumes of dried shelled bambara beans into Western Africa displayed considerable volatility from 2017 to 2020. The lowest point was in 2020 at 11.8 tonnes, while imports peaked in 2018 at 307.3 tonnes, representing a 26-fold difference. In 2018, imports surged by 895.0%, but in 2019 they fell sharply by 88.4%. By 2020, imports had declined by 66.7% year-over-year.

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

From 2017 to 2020, China was the principal source for dried shelled bambara bean imports into Western Africa, accounting for 75.1% of total imports in kind, with other destinations forming a less significant portion.

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

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

Imports in value, K $ US

Import values for dried shelled bambara beans into Western Africa showed marked fluctuations between 2017 and 2020. The lowest value was recorded in 2017, while the peak occurred in 2018 at 348.8 thousand US dollars, showing a 24-fold amplitude. In 2018, import values jumped by 2 346.0%, but in 2019 they fell by 84.5%. By 2020, imports had declined to 19.9 thousand US dollars, representing a 63.1% year-over-year decrease.

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

Between 2017 and 2020, China dominated dried shelled bambara bean imports into Western Africa in value terms, accounting for 79.0% of total flows, with a fragmented group of other markets making up the remainder.

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

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