Dried shelled beans market in Benin

Earlier Report Observations

Market volume for dried shelled beans in Benin fluctuated between 2018 and 2023. After a slight dip to 136.1 thousand tons in 2019, it recovered to 142.9 thousand tons in 2020 and continued growing, reaching a peak of 152.8 thousand tons in 2022. However, in 2023 the market contracted sharply to 110.1 thousand tons, driven by a significant increase in exports to 23.2 thousand tons and a drop in domestic production to 126.1 thousand tons.

In 2024, the Beninese government launched a special program to intensify vegetable and cereal production, adopted in July, aiming to boost output for stable consumption, processing, and commercialisation to meet growing regional demand. Construction also began on the Grand Nokoué agri-food hub, a modern logistics platform with dry storage facilities set to open in 2026, while a series of modern urban markets opened to improve trading conditions for wholesalers and retailers of dry goods like beans.

Production dried shelled beans in Benin

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of dried shelled beans, 2017-2020

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

In 2020, Benin produced 138.7 thousand tons of dried shelled beans, marking a modest increase of 2.9% compared to the previous year. Looking at the broader period from 2017 to 2020, production grew by 27.4%, which translates to an annualized growth rate of 8.4%. The highest production level was recorded in 2018 at 142.9 thousand tons. That same year saw the largest increase of 31.3%, while 2019 experienced the most significant decline of 5.6%.

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

Exports dried shelled beans from Benin

Exports in kind, t

The market displayed an unstable trend throughout the observed period. Exports peaked in 2017 and reached their lowest point in 2020, with an 11.7-fold difference between these years. In 2020, Benin exported 37 tons of dried shelled beans, a sharp decrease of 90.8% from the previous year. The largest increase occurred in 2019, with a jump of 321.1%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, the leading destinations for Benin's dried shelled bean exports in volume terms were the Netherlands, accounting for 34.5% of exports, the United Kingdom with 22.6%, and Italy at 13.6%. Together, these three countries represented 70.7% of total export flows.

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

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

Exports in value, K $ US

The market exhibited an unstable trend throughout the timeframe. The highest export value was registered in 2017, while the lowest occurred in 2020, showing a peak-to-trough ratio of 12.7 times. In 2020, Benin's dried shelled bean exports totaled 7.9 thousand US dollars, representing a 90.9% reduction compared to 2019. The largest increase was recorded in 2019 at 161.9%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, the Netherlands, with 28.5% of exports in value terms, the United Kingdom at 19.9%, and Ireland with 19.8%, consistently remained the main destinations for Benin's dried shelled bean exports. Together, these three countries accounted for 68.2% of total export flows.

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

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

Imports dried shelled beans to Benin

Imports in kind, t

The market showed signs of volatility over the observed period. Imports peaked in 2017 and fell to their lowest point in 2019, with a 2.9-fold swing between these years. In 2020, Benin imported 4 231 tons of dried shelled beans, a steep gain of 148.8% compared to 2019. The minimum volume was recorded in 2019 at 1 701 tons, which also saw the largest decline of 41.5%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Niger effectively monopolized imports of dried shelled beans to Benin in volume terms, accounting for 98.1% of total flows.

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

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

Imports in value, K $ US

After a two-year decline, Benin's dried shelled bean imports from abroad increased in 2020. The country imported 71.9 thousand US dollars worth of dried shelled beans that year, representing a sharp uptick of 47.3% versus the previous year. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, imports decreased by 26.2%, with a compound annual growth rate of -9.6%. The minimum value was recorded in 2019 at 48.8 thousand US dollars, which also saw the largest decline of 29.7%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Niger remained the dominant partner for Benin's dried shelled bean imports in value terms, holding a share of 77.5% of total flows, while other markets formed a long tail.

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

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