Maize flour and cereals market in Guyana

Earlier Report Observations

From 2018 to 2020, the maize flour and cereals market in Guyana experienced shifts in production and trade volumes. The inauguration of a new flour processing plant in North Rupununi in 2018, supported by international funding, aimed to boost local processing capacity. However, production declined in 2019 to 771 t, coinciding with regulatory changes affecting cereal milling and marketing that were applicable in Guyana, potentially adding compliance costs or complexity for producers. The market volume then expanded significantly in 2020, reaching 1 389 t, driven by a surge in imports to 539 t alongside a recovery in domestic output to 854 t.

The period from 2021 to 2023 was marked by continued efforts to structure the local agricultural sector. A professionalization initiative and the establishment of a processing committee in late 2020 laid groundwork for sector development. Production remained variable, dipping to 680 t in 2022 before recovering to 787 t in 2023. This recovery aligned with the signing of a new territorial agricultural roadmap in April 2023, which prioritized food sovereignty and likely influenced market dynamics as imports decreased that year, leading to a total market size of 1 497 t.

Looking ahead to 2024 and 2025, major infrastructure projects and global factors came to the fore. Construction began on Guyana's first integrated stone-grind mill, a project directly targeting the nation's complete dependence on imported flour and animal feed. Furthermore, global disruptions from the COVID-19 pandemic and the Ukraine conflict, cited in market analyses, had previously driven a sharp rise in import costs and volumes, exemplified by the 901 t of imports in 2022. These events underscore the ongoing push for greater food autonomy, reflected in strategic plans aiming for 80% self-sufficiency by 2030.

Production maize flour and cereals in Guyana

In kind, 2018-2021, t

Top producers of maize flour and cereals, 2018-2021

World map of production of maize flour and cereals, 2018-2021

In 2021, Guyana produced 765.0 t of maize flour and cereals, marking a significant decline of 10.4% compared to the previous year. Over the period from 2018 to 2021, production decreased by 17.1%, with a compound annual growth rate of 6.0%. The largest decline occurred in 2019, at 16.5%, while the largest increase was recorded in 2020, at 10.9%.

Annual dynamics of production in Guyana in kind, 2018-2021, t

Exports maize flour and cereals from Guyana

Exports in kind, t

The market showed an unstable trend throughout the period. Exports reached their lowest point in 2021 at 0.1 t, representing a sharp contraction of 98.0% from the previous year. In contrast, the highest exports were recorded in 2020 at 4.6 t, reflecting a 51-fold gap between these years. The largest increase occurred in 2020, with a surge of 4 811.1%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Guyana in kind, 2018-2021, t

From 2018 to 2021, Antigua and Barbuda was the dominant market for exports in kind, accounting for 83.4% of total flows, while other countries together made up the remaining share.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2021

World map of product's exports from Guyana in kind, 2018-2021

Exports in value, K $ US

Market performance exhibited noticeable fluctuations during this period. The lowest value was recorded in 2018, while the peak occurred in 2020, showing a 34-fold variation. In 2021, foreign maize flour and cereals supplies from Guyana totaled 1.0 K $ US, down by 91.8% compared to 2020. The maximum value was in 2020 at 12.1 K $ US, with the largest increase that year at 2 020.0%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Guyana in value, 2018-2021, K $ US

Between 2018 and 2021, Antigua and Barbuda remained the main outlet for maize flour and cereals from Guyana in value terms, taking 84.0% of total exports, while the remaining volume was distributed among other countries.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2021

World map of product's exports from Guyana in value, 2018-2021

Imports maize flour and cereals to Guyana

Imports in kind, t

Foreign maize flour and cereals supplies to Guyana increased for the third consecutive year. In 2021, imports amounted to 542.5 t, showing a slight improvement of 0.6% year-over-year. From 2018 to 2021, imports grew by 87.4%, equating to an annualized rate of 23.3%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Guyana in kind, 2018-2021, t

Throughout 2018 to 2021, the country structure of imports in kind was primarily shaped by Barbados and the United States, which together accounted for 83.9% of total flows, with other markets forming a long tail.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2021

World map of product's imports to Guyana in kind, 2018-2021

Imports in value, K $ US

After a two-year increase, cross-border shipments of maize flour and cereals to Guyana declined. In 2021, Guyana imported approximately 564.0 K $ US of maize flour and cereals, which is 9.8% lower than the previous year. Over the period from 2018 to 2021, imports increased by 56.3%, with a compound annual growth rate of 16.1%. The maximum value was recorded in 2020 at 625.3 K $ US, and the largest increase occurred that year at 38.3%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Guyana in value, 2018-2021, K $ US

From 2018 to 2021, Barbados and the United States together accounted for 83.7% of total imports in value terms, with other countries forming a diversified but less significant tail.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2021

World map of product's imports to Guyana in value, 2018-2021