Maize flour and cereals market in Trinidad and Tobago

Earlier Report Observations

The maize flour and cereals market in Trinidad and Tobago showed significant volume swings from 27,111 tons in 2018 to a high of 31,024 tons in 2022, before easing to 28,684 tons in 2023. A key regulatory shift occurred in 2020 when the government removed import permit requirements for seeds, aiming to improve input access for local agricultural production. Global factors soon dominated, as supply chain disruptions and the COVID-19 pandemic increased wheat costs and tightened availability in 2021.

To mitigate rising costs, the government maintained zero import duty and VAT on wheat and flour products, helping to stabilize the market. The war in Ukraine sharply escalated wheat prices in 2022, prompting National Flour Mills (NFM) to raise wholesale flour prices by 33%. Concurrently, NFM's launch of new specialty products, including cassava wheat flour and multigrain flours, diversified the offering and supported market growth that year by attracting consumer interest.

NFM continued to invest in production capabilities, commissioning a new automated packaging line in 2023 to boost operational efficiency. Market dynamics remain closely tied to international wheat prices and freight costs, with consumer preferences showing a gradual but limited tilt toward health-conscious flour varieties, where price sensitivity is a major consideration.

Production maize flour and cereals in Trinidad and Tobago

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Top producers of maize flour and cereals, 2017-2020

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

In 2019, Trinidad and Tobago produced 15,120 tonnes of maize flour and cereals, marking the highest output during the period. However, production fell to 12,240 tonnes in 2020, representing a significant 19.0% decline from the previous year. Overall, from 2017 to 2020, production decreased by 10.5%, which translates to an average annual reduction of 3.6%.

Annual dynamics of production in Trinidad and Tobago in kind, 2017-2020, t

Exports maize flour and cereals from Trinidad and Tobago

Exports in kind, t

Export volumes of maize flour and cereals from Trinidad and Tobago showed notable fluctuations between 2017 and 2020. The lowest point was in 2017, while exports peaked in 2019 at 114 tonnes. In 2020, exports dropped to 69 tonnes, a 39.6% decrease from 2019. The overall fluctuation across the period was 3.9 times, with the largest increase occurring in 2019 at 175.5%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Trinidad and Tobago in kind, 2017-2020, t

From 2017 to 2020, the main destinations for Trinidad and Tobago's maize flour and cereal exports were Barbados, accounting for 33.0% of exports in kind, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines at 25.6%, and Grenada at 19.7%. Together, these three countries made up 78.3% of total export flows.

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

World map of product's exports from Trinidad and Tobago in kind, 2017-2020

Exports in value, K $ US

Export values for maize flour and cereals from Trinidad and Tobago displayed an unstable trend from 2017 to 2020. The lowest value was recorded in 2018 at 53,000 US dollars, while the peak occurred in 2019 at 127,000 US dollars, representing a 2.4-fold difference. In 2020, exports amounted to 105,000 US dollars, a 16.8% decrease from the previous year. The largest decline was in 2018 at 44.3%, and the largest increase was in 2019 at 137.5%.

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

During 2017–2020, the key destinations for Trinidad and Tobago's maize flour and cereal exports in value terms were Grenada, with 22.1% of exports, Barbados at 20.6%, and Venezuela at 16.4%. Combined, these three markets accounted for 59.1% of total export flows.

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

World map of product's exports from Trinidad and Tobago in value, 2017-2020

Imports maize flour and cereals to Trinidad and Tobago

Imports in kind, t

Imports of maize flour and cereals into Trinidad and Tobago increased for the third consecutive year in 2020, reaching 16,830 tonnes, up 13.0% from 2019. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, imports grew by 26.5%, with an average annual growth rate of 8.1%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Trinidad and Tobago in kind, 2017-2020, t

From 2017 to 2020, imports of maize flour and cereals to Trinidad and Tobago were primarily sourced from the United States and Brazil, which together accounted for 94.2% of total import flows. Other destinations played a minor role in the import structure.

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

World map of product's imports to Trinidad and Tobago in kind, 2017-2020

Imports in value, K $ US

Trinidad and Tobago's imports of maize flour and cereals in value terms rose for the third year in a row in 2020, totaling 14.8% higher than in 2019. Over the 2017–2020 period, imports increased by 40%, with an average annual growth rate of 11.9%.

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

Throughout 2017–2020, the United States and Brazil were the dominant sources for Trinidad and Tobago's maize flour and cereal imports in value terms, jointly making up 92.2% of total flows. Other destinations contributed relatively small shares.

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

World map of product's imports to Trinidad and Tobago in value, 2017-2020