Market research

Ethyl alcohol market in Western Africa

Release date: Mar 29, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

Report language:

Report language:

Submission method: to your account

File format: docx, xlsx

Single Report

$500

Instant access to detailed data on one specific market
Ideal for one-off tasks: niche assessments, presentations, investment decisions
Available in Excel and Word in 15 minutes after purchase
Cheaper than subscription, but each market requires a separate purchase

Best if you know exactly what you need

Buy a single report

Platform Subscription

from$600

Complete and unlimited data access across products and regions
Includes continuous data updates during subscription period
Download reports instantly in Word, and Excel formats
More cost-effective for multiple markets or regular analysis

Ideal for regular data users

View pricing plans

"Western Africa" region includes following countries:

Cabo Verde

Benin

Gambia

Ghana

Guinea

Côte d'Ivoire

Liberia

Mali

Mauritania

Niger

Nigeria

Guinea-Bissau

Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha

Senegal

Sierra Leone

Togo

Burkina Faso

Earlier Report Observations

The ethyl alcohol market in Western Africa expanded to a peak of 495.8 million liters in 2019, driven by robust demand for both denatured and undenatured products in industrial and beverage applications. However, the market volume contracted over the following years, falling to 296.5 million liters by 2023, as global supply chain disruptions and international commodity price fluctuations constrained import flows into the region.

Local production experienced a sharp drop in 2020 to 81.1 million liters, likely due to operational challenges during the pandemic, but recovered to pre-2020 levels by 2021. This recovery was supported by capacity optimization programs and expansion projects undertaken by state-owned companies and major producers, such as the tripling of one ethanol plant's capacity.

Structural shifts within the market included a notable growth in the denatured ethyl alcohol segment, reflected in rising export volumes, and changes in the regional import landscape with Nigeria and Kenya increasing their shares. Legislative developments, including Nigeria's introduction of an E10 blending mandate aimed at reducing fuel subsidies and pollution, began reshaping demand patterns for fuel-grade ethanol.

Table of content

1. Disclaimer
2. Terms of use of the report
3. Product codes in the statistical classifications used in the report
4. Key Market Indicators and Trends
1. 4.1. Key Market Indicators
  1. 4.1.1. In kind
    1. 4.1.1.1. Production, 2018-2023
    2. 4.1.1.2. Imports, 2018-2024
    3. 4.1.1.3. Exports, 2018-2024
    4. 4.1.1.4. Market size, 2018-2023
2. 4.2. Market Trends and Factors
5. Production
1. 5.1. Production in Western Africa
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in Western Africa in kind, 2018-2023, M l
2. 5.2. Global production by Country, 2018-2023
  1. 5.2.1. Annual dynamics of production by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023, M l
  2. 5.2.2. Dynamics of production structure by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023
  3. 5.2.3. Annual dynamics of production by country in kind, 2018-2023, M l
  4. 5.2.4. Structure of production by countries in kind, 2018-2023
  5. 5.2.5. Dynamics of peoduction structure by countries in kind, 2018-2023
6. Imports
1. 6.1. Imports (Direct Data*)
  1. 6.1.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 6.1.2. Imports in kind, M l
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Cabo Verde in kind, 2018-2024, M l
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Cabo Verde by countries, 2018-2024, M l
    3. 6.1.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.1.3. Imports in value, M $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Cabo Verde in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Cabo Verde by countries, 2018-2024, M $ US
    3. 6.1.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.1.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/K l
    1. 6.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Cabo Verde, 2018-2024, $ US/K l
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Cabo Verde by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/K l
2. 6.2. Imports (Mirror Data)
  1. 6.2.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 6.2.2. Imports in kind, M l
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Cabo Verde in kind, 2018-2024, M l
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Cabo Verde by countries, 2018-2024, M l
    3. 6.2.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.2.3. Imports in value, M $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Cabo Verde in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Cabo Verde by countries, 2018-2024, M $ US
    3. 6.2.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.2.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/K l
    1. 6.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Cabo Verde, 2018-2024, $ US/K l
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Cabo Verde by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/K l
7. Exports
1. 7.1. Exports (Direct Data*)
  1. 7.1.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 7.1.2. Exports in kind, M l
    1. 7.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Cabo Verde in kind, 2018-2024, M l
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Cabo Verde by countries, 2018-2024, M l
    3. 7.1.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.1.3. Exports in value, M $ US
    1. 7.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Cabo Verde in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Cabo Verde by countries, 2018-2024, M $ US
    3. 7.1.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.1.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/K l
    1. 7.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Cabo Verde, 2018-2024, $ US/K l
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Cabo Verde by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/K l
2. 7.2. Exports (Mirror Data)
  1. 7.2.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 7.2.2. Exports in kind, M l
    1. 7.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Cabo Verde in kind, 2018-2024, M l
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Cabo Verde by countries, 2018-2024, M l
    3. 7.2.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.2.3. Exports in value, M $ US
    1. 7.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Cabo Verde in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Cabo Verde by countries, 2018-2024, M $ US
    3. 7.2.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.2.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/K l
    1. 7.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Cabo Verde, 2018-2024, $ US/K l
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Cabo Verde by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/K l
8. Trade balance
1. 8.1. Trade balance (Direct Data)
  1. 8.1.1. In kind, M l
  2. 8.1.2. In value, M $ US
2. 8.2. Trade balance (Mirror Data)
  1. 8.2.1. In kind, M l
  2. 8.2.2. In value, M $ US
9. Top buying and selling countries, 2018-2024
1. 9.1. Direct Data
  1. 9.1.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.1.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers
2. 9.2. Mirror Data
  1. 9.2.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.2.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers

Production ethyl alcohol in Western Africa

In kind, 2017-2020, M l

Top producers of ethyl alcohol, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of ethyl alcohol, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

In Western Africa, ethyl alcohol production reached 81.1 million liters in 2020, marking a 20.5% decrease from the previous year. Looking at the period from 2017 to 2020, production fell by 22.8%, which translates to an annualized decline of 8.3%. The only year of growth during this timeframe was 2019, when production increased by 5.6%.

Annual dynamics of production in Western Africa in kind, 2017-2020, M l

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(8.0%)	5.6%	(20.5%)	(8.3%)

Source: SHEV.io

In value, 2017-2020, K $ US

The value of ethyl alcohol output in Western Africa was $72,032 thousand in 2020, down 7.5% from the year before. From 2017 to 2020, production value decreased by 7%, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of -2.4%. The highest value was recorded in 2019 at $77,901 thousand, which also saw the largest increase of 3.9% during this period.

Annual dynamics of production in Western Africa in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(3.3%)	3.9%	(7.5%)	(2.4%)

Source: SHEV.io

Exports ethyl alcohol from Western Africa

Exports in kind, M l

Exports of ethyl alcohol from Western Africa declined for the third year in a row. In 2020, exports totaled 7.5 million liters, a 16.3% drop compared to 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, exports fell by 60.3%, equating to an annualized decrease of 26.5%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Western Africa in kind, 2017-2020, M l

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(46.4%)	(11.3%)	(16.3%)	(26.5%)

Source: SHEV.io

Between 2017 and 2020, Switzerland and South Africa were the main markets for Western Africa's ethyl alcohol exports in volume terms, together accounting for 5.5% of total export flows.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, M $ US

Western Africa's ethyl alcohol export value also declined for the third consecutive year. In 2020, exports were valued at $6.6 million, showing a slight decrease of 2.6% from 2019. From 2017 to 2020, export value dropped by 52.1%, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of -21.8%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(43.7%)	(12.7%)	(2.6%)	(21.8%)

Source: SHEV.io

Throughout 2017-2020, Switzerland and South Africa dominated the country structure of Western Africa's ethyl alcohol exports in value terms, jointly representing 6.4% of total export flows.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports ethyl alcohol to Western Africa

Imports in kind, M l

After two years of growth, ethyl alcohol imports into Western Africa declined. In 2020, imports amounted to 213.4 million liters, a sharp contraction of 47.0% from 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, imports decreased by 29.4%, with an annualized decline of 11.0%. The peak was in 2019 at 402.7 million liters, which also saw the largest increase of 30.4% during this timeframe.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Western Africa in kind, 2017-2020, M l

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	2.1%	30.4%	(47.0%)	(11.0%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, the United States (40.5% of import volume), India (12.5%), and Brazil (11.6%) formed the main cluster of markets for Western Africa's ethyl alcohol imports in volume terms, together accounting for 64.6% of total import flows.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, M $ US

In contrast, ethyl alcohol import value into Western Africa increased for the third consecutive year. In 2020, imports were valued at approximately $323.0 million, up 18.8% from 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, import value rose by 46.7%, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13.6%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	7.9%	14.5%	18.8%	13.6%

Source: SHEV.io

Between 2017 and 2020, the United States (48.6% of import value), India (11.1%), and Brazil (9.6%) were the principal destinations for Western Africa's ethyl alcohol imports in value terms, jointly accounting for 69.3% of total import flows.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io