Dried shelled beans market in Northern Africa

Earlier Report Observations

From 2018 to 2020, the dried shelled bean market in Northern Africa was shaped by contrasting forces. Initial growth in production, supported by capacity-building initiatives like Niger's 3N program, was offset by a sharp 25% contraction in market volume to 259 thousand tonnes in 2020. This decline was directly linked to reduced yields caused by the spread of agricultural diseases such as halo blight and white mold, compounded by widespread limitations in irrigation infrastructure across the region.

A strong recovery followed, with market volume expanding by 32% to 343 thousand tonnes in 2021. This turnaround was facilitated by increased financial support for agricultural startups and SMEs, alongside the work of the Pan-African Bean Research Alliance to disseminate improved bean varieties. Growth continued into 2022, reaching 360 thousand tonnes, driven by rising consumer demand for plant-based proteins and the expansion of processing capacities for bean-based food products.

The market dynamics shifted again in 2023, with volume falling 31% to 249 thousand tonnes. A key driver was a significant increase in export shipments, which more than doubled, influenced in part by regional trade policies affecting cross-border bean flows. Concurrently, the entry of new players like AGT Africa, through its acquisition of a major seed business in 2024, aimed to strengthen local supply with resilient varieties, addressing persistent challenges of disease pressure and low irrigation.

Production dried shelled beans in Northern Africa

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 2019, Northern Africa produced 330.1 thousand tons of dried shelled beans, but production fell to 297.1 thousand tons in 2020, marking a 10.0% decline. Over the 2017-2020 period, production decreased by 10.9%, with an average annual decline of 3.8%. The largest increase occurred in 2019, when production rose by 2.5%.

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

Exports dried shelled beans from Northern Africa

Exports in kind, K t

Dried shelled bean exports from Northern Africa grew for the second year in a row. In 2019, exports stood at 80.0 thousand tons, but surged to 104.0 thousand tons in 2020, reflecting a sharp 30.1% increase. Over the 2017-2020 period, exports rose by 9.4%, with an average annual growth rate of 3.1%. The lowest export volume was recorded in 2018 at 53.7 thousand tons, which represented a 43.5% decline from the previous year. In contrast, 2019 saw the largest increase, with exports jumping by 48.8%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Northern Africa's dried shelled bean exports were highly diversified in terms of destination countries. Iraq accounted for 16.9% of exports, Romania for 11.3%, and Turkey for 11.0%, with these three markets together making up just 39.2% of total export flows. The remaining 60.8% was distributed among numerous smaller markets.

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

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

Exports in value, M $ US

In 2019, dried shelled bean exports from Northern Africa were valued at 81.6 million US dollars, but this figure rose to 117.9 million US dollars in 2020, representing a 44.6% increase. Between 2017 and 2020, export value grew by 21.5%, equivalent to an average annual rate of 6.7%. The highest value was recorded in 2018 at 122.6 million US dollars, while the lowest was in 2019 at 81.6 million US dollars, which marked a 33.5% decline from the previous year.

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

During the 2017-2020 period, the value of dried shelled bean exports from Northern Africa was relatively evenly distributed among trading partners. Iraq contributed 16.3% of export value, Romania 11.1%, and Turkey 10.7%, with these three countries together accounting for only 38.1% of total export flows.

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

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

Imports dried shelled beans to Northern Africa

Imports in kind, K t

Following two years of growth, dried shelled bean imports into Northern Africa declined. In 2019, imports reached 95.1 thousand tons, but dropped to 66.3 thousand tons in 2020, a 30.3% year-over-year decrease. Over the 2017-2020 period, imports fell by 13.4%, with an average annual decline of 4.7%. The largest increase occurred in 2018, when imports rose by 17.3%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Northern Africa sourced dried shelled beans from a wide range of suppliers. Argentina provided 36.3% of imports, Brazil 8.3%, and Turkey 2.6%, with these three countries together contributing 47.2% of total import volume. Many other countries held smaller but significant shares.

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

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

Imports in value, M $ US

Northern Africa's dried shelled bean import value declined for the second consecutive year. In 2019, imports were valued at 107.0 million US dollars, but fell to 82.6 million US dollars in 2020, a substantial 22.8% drop. Between 2017 and 2020, import value decreased by 12.3%, equivalent to an average annual decline of 4.3%. The highest value was recorded in 2018 at 119.2 million US dollars, which represented a 26.6% increase from the previous year.

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

In the 2017-2020 period, the value of dried shelled bean imports into Northern Africa was spread across many countries. Argentina accounted for 34.2% of import value, Brazil for 8.1%, and the United States for 3.1%, with these three suppliers together making up only 45.4% of total import flows.

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

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