Market research

Milk and cream market in ECOWAS

Release date: Mar 27, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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"ECOWAS" region includes following countries:

Benin

Burkina Faso

Gambia

Ghana

Guinea

Guinea-Bissau

Côte d'Ivoire

Cabo Verde

Liberia

Mali

Niger

Nigeria

Senegal

Sierra Leone

Togo

Earlier Report Observations

The ECOWAS market for milk and cream saw continuous expansion from 2018 to 2023, with total volume rising from 4.9 million tons to 5.6 million tons. This growth coincided with a steady increase in domestic production, which reached 5.5 million tons by 2023.

Imports fluctuated during the period, peaking at 64 thousand tons in 2021 before falling to 48 thousand tons in 2023. Exports remained minimal and dropped to zero in the last two years, further aligning with the market's overall upward trajectory.

Table of content

1. Disclaimer
2. Terms of use of the report
3. Product codes in the statistical classifications used in the report
4. Key Market Indicators and Trends
1. 4.1. Key Market Indicators
  1. 4.1.1. In kind
    1. 4.1.1.1. Production, 2018-2023
    2. 4.1.1.2. Imports, 2018-2024
    3. 4.1.1.3. Exports, 2018-2024
    4. 4.1.1.4. Market size, 2018-2023
2. 4.2. Market Trends and Factors
5. Production
1. 5.1. Production in ECOWAS
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in ECOWAS in kind, 2018-2023, K t
2. 5.2. Global production by Country, 2018-2023
  1. 5.2.1. Annual dynamics of production by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023, K t
  2. 5.2.2. Dynamics of production structure by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023
  3. 5.2.3. Annual dynamics of production by country in kind, 2018-2023, K t
  4. 5.2.4. Structure of production by countries in kind, 2018-2023
  5. 5.2.5. Dynamics of peoduction structure by countries in kind, 2018-2023
6. Imports
1. 6.1. Imports (Direct Data*)
  1. 6.1.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 6.1.2. Imports in kind, t
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Benin in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Benin by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 6.1.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.1.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Benin in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Benin by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 6.1.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.1.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 6.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Benin, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Benin by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
2. 6.2. Imports (Mirror Data)
  1. 6.2.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 6.2.2. Imports in kind, t
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Benin in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Benin by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 6.2.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.2.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Benin in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Benin by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 6.2.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.2.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 6.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Benin, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Benin by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
7. Exports
1. 7.1. Exports (Direct Data*)
  1. 7.1.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 7.1.2. Exports in kind, t
    1. 7.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Benin in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Benin by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 7.1.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.1.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Benin in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Benin by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 7.1.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.1.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 7.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Benin, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Benin by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
2. 7.2. Exports (Mirror Data)
  1. 7.2.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 7.2.2. Exports in kind, t
    1. 7.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Benin in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Benin by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 7.2.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.2.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Benin in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Benin by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 7.2.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.2.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 7.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Benin, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Benin by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
8. Trade balance
1. 8.1. Trade balance (Direct Data)
  1. 8.1.1. In kind, t
  2. 8.1.2. In value, K $ US
2. 8.2. Trade balance (Mirror Data)
  1. 8.2.1. In kind, t
  2. 8.2.2. In value, K $ US
9. Top buying and selling countries, 2018-2024
1. 9.1. Direct Data
  1. 9.1.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.1.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers
2. 9.2. Mirror Data
  1. 9.2.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.2.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers

Production milk and cream in ECOWAS

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of milk and cream, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of milk and cream, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

ECOWAS has seen milk and cream production grow for three straight years. In 2020, the region produced 5 141 thousand tonnes, marking a 1.8% year-on-year increase. From 2017 to 2020, production rose by 7.2%, which translates to an average annual growth rate of 2.4%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	2.0%	3.3%	1.8%	2.4%

Source: SHEV.io

Exports milk and cream from ECOWAS

Exports in kind, t

Export volumes showed considerable volatility during this period. The lowest point came in 2018 at 515 tonnes, while exports peaked in 2019 at 4 076 tonnes—a 7.9-fold difference. In 2020, ECOWAS exported 756 tonnes of milk and cream, representing an 81.5% drop from the previous year. The most significant surge occurred in 2019, with a 691.0% increase.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(35.1%)	691.0%	(81.5%)	(1.6%)

Source: SHEV.io

Between 2017 and 2020, the Netherlands, Malaysia, and Slovakia were the primary destinations for ECOWAS milk and cream exports by volume. The Netherlands accounted for 24.6% of exports, Malaysia for 4.9%, and Slovakia for 1.4%. Together, these three markets made up 30.9% of total export flows.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, K $ US

After rising for two years, the value of ECOWAS milk and cream exports declined in 2020. Exports totaled 1 769 thousand US dollars that year, down 37.3% from 2019. Over the 2017–2020 period, export value increased by 21.2%, with a compound annual growth rate of 6.6%. The highest value was recorded in 2019 at 2 824 thousand US dollars, which also saw the largest annual increase of 68.1%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	15.0%	68.1%	(37.3%)	6.6%

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, no single market dominated ECOWAS milk and cream exports by value. The Netherlands accounted for 9.4% of export value, Namibia for 1.7%, and Malaysia for 1.6%. Combined, these three partners represented just 12.7% of total export value, with many smaller markets each holding modest individual shares.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports milk and cream to ECOWAS

Imports in kind, t

ECOWAS imported 54 368 tonnes of milk and cream in 2020, a 6.1% decrease from the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, import volume fell by 9.3%, equivalent to an average annual decline of 3.2%. The lowest volume was recorded in 2018 at 52 925 tonnes, which also saw the largest drop of 11.7%. In contrast, 2019 experienced the biggest increase at 9.5%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(11.7%)	9.5%	(6.1%)	(3.2%)

Source: SHEV.io

Throughout 2017–2020, France, Portugal, and Belgium were the leading sources of milk and cream imports to ECOWAS by volume. France supplied 21.9% of imports, Portugal 18.2%, and Belgium 10.1%. Together, these three countries accounted for 50.3% of total import flows.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, K $ US

The value of milk and cream imports to ECOWAS increased for the second consecutive year in 2020, reaching 42 273 thousand US dollars—a 12.3% rise from 2019. The lowest import value during this period was in 2018 at 36 317 thousand US dollars, which also saw the steepest decline of 14.7%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(14.7%)	3.6%	12.3%	(0.2%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, France, Portugal, and Belgium remained the top sources of milk and cream imports to ECOWAS by value. France accounted for 35.3% of import value, Portugal for 17.4%, and Belgium for 11.7%. Collectively, these three countries represented 64.4% of total import value.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io