Maize flour and cereals market in Guinea

Earlier Report Observations

From 2018 to 2019, the maize flour and cereals market volume in Guinea increased from 122 thousand tons to 134 thousand tons. This growth was primarily driven by the launch of the AgriFARM project, which provided sustained support to 78,000 family farms, enhanced their resilience, and improved access to local and regional markets across 15 prefectures in Upper and Middle Guinea.

After a contraction in 2020, the market stabilized around 122–126 thousand tons in 2021–2022. A key turning point came in 2022 when the government signed supply and price‑stability protocols with the private sector, ensuring transparency in commercial transactions and securing the flow of essential goods, including cereals. These agreements helped rebuild market volume to 126 thousand tons by the end of 2022.

The market expanded sharply to 145 thousand tons in 2023, fueled by several state measures. The government maintained tax and customs exemptions on staple imports to keep consumer prices in check, while the 2023/2024 agricultural campaign distributed subsidized maize seeds and made 70 thousand tons of fertilizer available at reduced cost. In 2024, support continued through a third supply‑stability protocol and the launch of the 2024/2025 campaign backed by $25 million in farmer aid, alongside the emergence of local maize‑processing units in Upper Guinea that add value to domestic production.

Production maize flour and cereals in Guinea

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

Guinea's production of maize flour and cereals declined after two years of growth. In 2019, output reached its peak at 132.1 thousand tons, but by 2020 it had fallen to 121.7 thousand tons, marking a 7.8% decrease from the previous year. Over the entire period from 2017 to 2020, production grew by 3.5%, which translates to an average annual increase of 1.1%. The most significant year-on-year rise occurred in 2019, when production jumped by 9.8%.

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

Exports maize flour and cereals from Guinea

Exports in kind, t

The export market for maize flour and cereals from Guinea showed considerable volatility between 2017 and 2020. In 2017, exports hit their lowest point, while 2019 saw the highest volume at 17 tons—a sixteen-fold difference between these extremes. In 2020, exports remained relatively stable at 17 tons, showing little change from 2019. The most dramatic increase took place in 2018, with exports surging by 1,466.1%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Sierra Leone and the Netherlands were the primary destinations for Guinea's maize flour and cereal exports in volume terms. Together, these two countries accounted for 81.4% of total exports, with the remaining share distributed among other markets.

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

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

Exports in value, K $ US

The value of Guinea's maize flour and cereal exports exhibited high volatility during this period. In 2017, export earnings were at their lowest, but by 2020 they had climbed to 34.8 thousand US dollars—the peak value, representing a seventy-four-fold increase from the trough. Compared to 2019, 2020 saw a moderate year-over-year rise of 3.5%. The most substantial decline occurred in 2019, with a drop of 0.9%, while the largest increase was recorded in 2018, when export value skyrocketed by 7,077.7%.

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

Between 2017 and 2020, Guinea's export earnings from maize flour and cereals were heavily concentrated in two markets: Sierra Leone and the Netherlands. These two partners together accounted for 86.8% of total export value, with other countries making up the remainder.

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

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

Imports maize flour and cereals to Guinea

Imports in kind, t

Guinea's imports of maize flour and cereals grew for the third year in a row in 2020. The volume reached approximately 2,166 tons, reflecting a notable 23.5% increase compared to 2019. Over the four-year span from 2017 to 2020, imports surged by 195.3%, which corresponds to an average annual growth rate of 43.5%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Spain, Poland, and Ukraine were the leading sources of maize flour and cereal imports to Guinea in volume terms. Spain contributed 43.3% of imports, Poland 28.6%, and Ukraine 7.5%. Combined, these three countries supplied 79.4% of Guinea's total import volume.

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

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

Imports in value, K $ US

The value of Guinea's maize flour and cereal imports continued to rise for the third consecutive year in 2020, reaching 762.4 thousand US dollars. This represented a solid 24.9% increase from the previous year. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, import value grew by 204.2%, with an average annual growth rate of 44.9%.

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

During 2017–2020, Spain, Poland, and Sierra Leone were the main sources of Guinea's maize flour and cereal imports in value terms. Spain accounted for 43.3% of import value, Poland for 26.1%, and Sierra Leone for 9.4%. Together, these three countries made up 78.9% of total import value.

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

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