Maize market in Mauritania

Earlier Report Observations

In 2018, the maize market volume in Mauritania was 31 856 t, rising to 36 332 t in 2019. This early growth was supported by a national livestock development program aimed at boosting agricultural production and integrating it into the formal economy, alongside investments in farming infrastructure. However, in 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted global supply chains and reduced demand, causing the market to fall by 23.5% to 27 785 t.

The market recovered to 34 972 t in 2021 following the establishment of the Investment Promotion Agency of Mauritania (APIM) and reforms to the investment code, which improved the business climate and facilitated market access. Then in 2022, market volume surged by 47% to 51 325 t. This jump was driven by the global food crisis exacerbated by the pandemic and the Ukraine conflict, which increased import needs, alongside a 44% rise in domestic cereal production compared to the five-year average.

In 2023, the market contracted to 37 194 t, despite a 45% expansion in cultivated area and a 35% increase in domestic maize production. Inflation and a 17% drop in maize prices in the first quarter likely affected demand and import volumes, while improved supplies of imported maize were accompanied by persistent shortages of local products.

Production maize in Mauritania

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Top producers of maize, 2017-2020

World map of production of maize, 2017-2020

Mauritania produced 15,000 tonnes of maize in 2020, which represents a 13.0% decrease compared to the previous year. Looking at the period from 2017 to 2020, production increased by 7.1% overall, averaging an annual growth rate of 2.3%. The lowest production level was recorded in 2018 at 12,000 tonnes, while the highest was in 2019 with 17,232 tonnes. The most significant decline occurred in 2018 at 14.3%, and the largest increase was in 2019 at 43.6%.

Annual dynamics of production in Mauritania in kind, 2017-2020, t

Exports maize from Mauritania

Market research indicates that Mauritania did not export any maize between 2017 and 2020.

Imports maize to Mauritania

Imports in kind, t

The market showed an unstable trend during this period. Imports reached their lowest point in 2017 and peaked in 2018, with a 25-fold difference between these years. In 2020, Mauritania's maize imports totaled 12,785 tonnes, a 33.1% drop from 2019. The highest import volume was recorded in 2018 at 19,856 tonnes, with the largest increase also occurring that year at 2,354.0%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, the main sources for Mauritania's maize imports by volume were Mali (41.8% of imports), Argentina (24.9% of imports), and Ukraine (20.0% of imports). Together, these three countries accounted for 86.7% of total import flows.

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

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

Imports in value, K $ US

The market displayed an unstable trend throughout the timeframe. Imports hit their lowest point in 2017 and reached their peak in 2018, with a 34-fold change between these years. In 2020, the value of maize imports to Mauritania was 1,420 thousand US dollars, a 42.8% decrease from the previous year. The maximum value was recorded in 2018 at 2,791 thousand US dollars, with the largest increase also in 2018 at 3,314.9%.

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

Between 2017 and 2020, the leading sources for Mauritania's maize imports by value were Ukraine (31.3% of imports), Mali (26.1% of imports), and Argentina (22.6% of imports). Collectively, these three markets made up 80.0% of total import flows.

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

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