Maize flour and cereals market in ECOWAS

Earlier Report Observations

The maize flour and cereals market in ECOWAS remained stable in 2018-2019, with market volume around 9 600 thousand tonnes. This stability was underpinned by the expansion of maize cultivation areas in West Africa, which increased raw material availability, and the emergence of new product segments such as precooked and nixtamalized maize flours. Investments in milling and processing infrastructure, along with growing consumer preference for maize-based foods due to their nutritional benefits, also contributed to market resilience.

From 2020 onwards, market volume entered a steady growth trajectory, reaching 10 362 thousand tonnes in 2023. The COVID-19 pandemic initially disrupted supply chains for maize grain and processing, but government policies across ECOWAS countries to support local cereal production through subsidies and extension services helped stimulate output. In subsequent years, the entry of new private and cooperative players into maize flour production, coupled with the launch of fortified and organic flour variants addressing nutritional deficiencies, further drove demand growth.

Growth was sustained in 2022-2023 through the expansion of milling capacity by major local companies and cooperatives, enabling them to meet rising demand. Despite significant price volatility in maize markets due to global supply chain disruptions linked to the Ukraine war, government interventions such as import tariff adjustments and stockpiling helped stabilize prices and ensure food security. Concurrently, policy shifts promoting local maize production via improved seed distribution and mechanization support, alongside the introduction of stricter labeling regulations and new product segments like protein-enriched flours, continued to stimulate the market.

Production maize flour and cereals in ECOWAS

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of maize flour and cereals, 2017-2020

World map of production of maize flour and cereals, 2017-2020

In 2019, ECOWAS produced 9,524 thousand tonnes of maize flour and cereals, marking the lowest output in the period. Production then rose by 5.0% to 10,000 thousand tonnes in 2020. Over the 2017-2020 timeframe, overall production grew by 4%, with a compound annual growth rate of 1.3%. The largest decline occurred in 2019, at 1.0%.

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

Exports maize flour and cereals from ECOWAS

Exports in kind, t

The market showed an unstable trend throughout the period. From 2017 to 2019, exports fluctuated significantly, with a peak-to-trough amplitude of 3.6 times. In 2019, exports hit their lowest point at 1,069 tonnes, representing a 61.6% decline. By 2020, ECOWAS exported 2,561 tonnes of maize flour and cereals, a sharp increase of 139.6% compared to the previous year.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Morocco, France, and the United States remained the top buyers of maize flour and cereals from ECOWAS. Morocco accounted for 39.5% of exports in kind, France for 5.4%, and the United States for 5.3%. Together, these three countries represented 50.1% of total exports in kind.

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

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

Exports in value, K $ US

Market behavior was volatile during these years. Exports in value terms reached their lowest point in 2019 at 641 thousand US dollars, with a 28.8% decline. In 2020, exports surged to 2,021 thousand US dollars, a sharp improvement of 215.3% from 2019. The period from 2017 to 2020 saw a peak-to-trough amplitude of 3.2 times.

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

From 2017 to 2020, the partner landscape for exports in value terms was diverse. The United States, Morocco, and the Netherlands were key players, accounting for 18.0%, 10.6%, and 9.9% of exports in value terms, respectively. Together, they formed 38.5% of total flows, while the remaining 61.5% was distributed among many other countries.

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

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

Imports maize flour and cereals to ECOWAS

Imports in kind, t

Imports of maize flour and cereals into ECOWAS increased for the second consecutive year. In 2018, imports recorded their lowest value at 39,511 tonnes, with a 7.1% decline. By 2020, imports rose to 62,652 tonnes, marking a 48.5% improvement from 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, imports grew by 47.4%, with a compound annual growth rate of 13.8%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, three principal markets—Turkey, Spain, and India—dominated imports in kind of maize flour and cereals to ECOWAS, jointly accounting for 51.9% of the total.

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

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

Imports in value, K $ US

Imports of maize flour and cereals into ECOWAS increased for the second year in a row. In 2018, imports hit their minimum at 19,093 thousand US dollars, with a 4.5% decline. By 2020, imports totalled 34,293 thousand US dollars, indicating a steep year-on-year increase of 64.0%. Between 2017 and 2020, imports rose by 71.5%, equating to an annualized rate of 19.7%.

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

Over the 2017-2020 period, imports in value terms were spread across a wide set of partner countries. Turkey, Spain, and India were the top contributors, accounting for 16.9%, 15.4%, and 10.9% of imports in value terms, respectively. Together, they represented 43.2% of total flows.

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

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