Grape wine market in Sub-Saharan Africa

Earlier Report Observations

Grape wine market volume in Sub-Saharan Africa showed considerable movement from 2018 to 2023. The market reached 6.1 billion liters in 2018, buoyed by the EU-South Africa free trade agreement that facilitated duty-free imports and by rising urban consumption. Volume then fell sharply to 3.1 billion liters in 2019, before beginning a sustained recovery.

The recovery phase from 2020 onward was supported by multiple factors. Despite global supply chain disruptions in 2020, maintained trade policies and adaptation by local producers helped restore import flows. The entry of new international players and the launch of modern wine production facilities in 2021 enhanced local output and product diversity. Market consolidation among major players and ongoing demand growth from an urbanizing population further drove volume expansion, peaking at 5.5 billion liters in 2022. Volume eased slightly to 5.2 billion liters in 2023.

Production grape wine in Sub-Saharan Africa

In kind, 2017-2020, M l

Top producers of grape wine, 2017-2020

World map of production of grape wine, 2017-2020

Sub-Saharan Africa's grape wine production increased for the second year in a row. In 2020, the region produced 1,051 million liters, marking a moderate 7.4% rise compared to the previous year. However, looking at the broader period from 2017 to 2020, production actually declined by 3.3%, which translates to an average annual decrease of 1.1%. The lowest production level was recorded in 2018 at 955 million liters, with that year also seeing the largest drop of 12.2%.

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

Exports grape wine from Sub-Saharan Africa

Exports in kind, M l

After two years of decline, Sub-Saharan Africa's grape wine exports rebounded in 2020. Export volumes reached 436 million liters, showing a significant gain of 30.8% from the previous year. Despite this recent uptick, exports fell by 20.9% overall between 2017 and 2020, with a compound annual growth rate of -7.5%. The lowest point was in 2019 at 333 million liters, which also experienced the steepest decline of 37.4%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Sub-Saharan Africa's grape wine exports were distributed across a wide range of markets. The top three destinations—the United Kingdom with 16.2% of export volume, Portugal with 13.8%, and Germany with 13.2%—collectively accounted for just 43.2% of total flows, indicating a diverse export landscape.

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

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

Exports in value, M $ US

Grape wine exports from Sub-Saharan Africa declined in value for the second consecutive year. In 2020, exports totaled 709 million US dollars, representing a slight decrease of 1.7% from the previous year. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, export value fell by 6.7%, equating to an average annual decline of 2.3%. The peak was in 2018 at 1,067 million US dollars, which also saw the largest increase of 40.4%. In contrast, 2019 recorded the sharpest drop of 32.4%.

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

Between 2017 and 2020, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Portugal played significant but not dominant roles as buyers of Sub-Saharan African grape wine in value terms. The United Kingdom accounted for 15.8% of export value, Germany for 10.5%, and Portugal for 9.6%, with their combined share reaching only 35.9% of total exports.

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

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

Imports grape wine to Sub-Saharan Africa

Imports in kind, M l

Import volumes of grape wine into Sub-Saharan Africa showed considerable volatility from 2017 to 2020. In 2020, imports stood at 3,339 million liters, up by 37.9% from 2019. The highest level was recorded in 2018 at 3,686 million liters, which also saw the largest increase of 99.8%. Imports hit their lowest point in 2017, and the most significant decline occurred in 2019 with a drop of 34.3%. Overall, imports varied by a factor of two between the peak in 2018 and the trough in 2017.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Portugal, Spain, and France were the central sources for Sub-Saharan Africa's grape wine imports by volume, together making up 66.8% of total flows.

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

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

Imports in value, M $ US

Sub-Saharan Africa's grape wine imports in value terms declined for the second year in a row. In 2020, imports amounted to 315 million US dollars, down by 16.6% from the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, import value decreased by 10.7%, with a compound annual growth rate of -3.7%. The maximum was in 2018 at 400 million US dollars, which also experienced the largest increase of 13.6%.

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

Throughout 2017 to 2020, France, Portugal, and Spain were the key partners for Sub-Saharan Africa's grape wine imports by value. France contributed 25.9% of import value, Portugal 18.1%, and Spain 14.7%, with these three countries together accounting for 58.7% of total flows.

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

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