Dried shelled lentils market in Madagascar

Earlier Report Observations

From 2018 to 2023, production of dried shelled lentils in Madagascar showed steady growth, increasing from 840 t to 871 t. This expansion in local output occurred alongside a sharp contraction in imports, which fell from 48 t in 2018 to just 2.2 t in 2022 before a slight recovery. As a result, the market size, while fluctuating, remained largely dependent on domestic production, ending the period at 868 t in 2023, slightly below its 2018 level.

In 2022, the agricultural sector faced a delayed start to the cropping season due to drought, which reduced rice output and affected broader agribusiness investments. Concurrently, the Ministry of Industrialization, Trade, and Consumption lifted the minimum export price for vanilla, liberalizing a key agro-food market and indirectly influencing related agricultural sectors. These conditions, coupled with persistently high local maize prices driven by speculation, likely reinforced the trend of declining imports and supported domestic lentil production.

By 2024, imports had risen to 28.6 t, suggesting a partial reversal of earlier trends, although full market size data for this year is not yet available. The overall period was characterized by a strengthening of domestic production capacity and a reduced reliance on foreign supplies for dried shelled lentils.

Production dried shelled lentils in Madagascar

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Top producers of dried shelled lentils, 2017-2020

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

Madagascar's dried shelled lentils production has increased for the third year in a row. In 2020, the country produced 855.1 tonnes, which represents a 1.1% increase compared to the previous year. Looking at the period from 2017 to 2020, production grew by 2.4%, averaging an annual growth rate of 0.8%.

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

Exports dried shelled lentils from Madagascar

Exports in kind, t

Madagascar's exports of dried shelled lentils reached 6.9 tonnes in 2020, marking a 17.5% increase from 2019. However, over the 2017-2020 period, exports fell by 38.1%, with a compound annual growth rate of -14.8%. The lowest export volume was recorded in 2019 at 5.9 tonnes, while the highest was in 2018 at 14.9 tonnes. The most significant decline occurred in 2019, dropping by 60.3%, whereas the largest increase was in 2018, rising by 32.7%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, France was the dominant partner in Madagascar's dried shelled lentils exports, consistently accounting for 96.7% of the total volume.

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

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

Exports in value, K $ US

Madagascar's dried shelled lentils exports in value terms declined for the second consecutive year. In 2020, exports amounted to 5.2 thousand US dollars, showing a sharp contraction of 48.6% compared to 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, export value decreased by 61.6%, with a compound annual growth rate of -27.3%. The peak value was recorded in 2018 at 15.6 thousand US dollars, which also saw the largest increase of 14.4%.

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

Throughout 2017-2020, France dominated Madagascar's dried shelled lentils exports in value terms, holding a 98.9% share of total flows.

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

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

Imports dried shelled lentils to Madagascar

Imports in kind, t

Madagascar's imports of dried shelled lentils in volume terms declined for the third consecutive year. In 2020, imports totaled 21.2 tonnes, representing a 49.5% decrease from 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, import volume fell by 89.5%, with a compound annual growth rate of -52.8%.

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

Between 2017 and 2020, the United States and the United Arab Emirates were the main suppliers of dried shelled lentils to Madagascar, together accounting for 81.4% of total imports in volume. Other destinations each contributed relatively small shares.

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

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

Imports in value, K $ US

Madagascar's dried shelled lentils imports in value terms declined for the third year in a row. In 2020, imports were valued at 17.5 thousand US dollars, indicating a significant drop of 10.9% from 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, import value decreased by 90.5%, with a compound annual growth rate of -54.3%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, the United States, France, and the United Arab Emirates were the largest sources of Madagascar's dried shelled lentils imports in value terms. The United States accounted for 66.8%, France for 13.1%, and the United Arab Emirates for 10.3%, together making up 90.2% of total import flows.

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

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