Milk and cream market in Gambia

Earlier Report Observations

The Gambian market for not concentrated, not sweetened milk and cream opened the period at 71 140 t in 2018, with over 80% of dairy products being imported, shaping local supply. Despite agricultural sector priorities including cattle crossbreeding to boost milk yields, domestic production began a gradual decline from 56 672 t, contributing to a market contraction to 70 115 t in 2019 and a sharper drop to 58 227 t in 2020.

Market volume rebounded to 67 334 t in 2021 as the country's free trade policy facilitated increased imports, raising total availability even with constrained agricultural investment. The following year, an 8% inflation rate driven by supply chain disruptions and higher commodity costs reduced consumer purchasing power, leading to a market decline to 57 623 t in 2022.

By 2023, the market stabilized at 57 733 t. Government interventions played a key role: agricultural subsidies under the GIRAV project and a modernization program distributing tractors and equipment supported local production, which increased to 51 891 t. Concurrent fiscal reforms and digitization of import processes affected the management of imported dairy products.

Production milk and cream in Gambia

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Top producers of milk and cream, 2017-2020

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

Gambia's milk and cream production has been declining for three consecutive years. In 2020, the country produced 49 687 tonnes, marking a 5.4% decrease from the previous year. Looking at the period from 2017 to 2020, production fell by 30.3%, with an average annual decline of 11.3%.

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

Exports milk and cream from Gambia

Exports in kind, t

The market showed an unstable pattern over the observed period. Exports reached their lowest point in 2019 at 0.3 tonnes and peaked in 2017, representing a 58-fold difference between these years. In 2020, Gambia exported 1 tonne of milk and cream, which was a sharp increase of 171.0% compared to 2019. The largest decline occurred in 2018, with a drop of 93.9%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, the main destinations for Gambia's milk and cream exports in volume were Guinea-Bissau, accounting for 36.8% of exports, Guinea with 34.1%, and Mali at 27.1%. Together, these three countries made up 98.0% of total export flows.

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

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

Exports in value, K $ US

The market experienced significant volatility during this timeframe. Exports in value terms hit their lowest in 2019 at 0.3 thousand US dollars and peaked in 2017, showing a 43-fold difference between these years. In 2020, milk and cream shipments from Gambia totaled 1 thousand US dollars, which was 101.2% higher than in 2019. The largest decline was recorded in 2018, with an 88.5% decrease.

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

Between 2017 and 2020, the primary buyers of Gambia's milk and cream in value terms were Guinea, with 34.2% of exports, Mali at 32.8%, and Guinea-Bissau with 31.8%. Collectively, these three countries accounted for 98.8% of total export value.

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

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

Imports milk and cream to Gambia

Imports in kind, t

Following a two-year increase, Gambia's milk and cream imports declined. The import volume reached its highest point in 2019 at 17 574 tonnes, then dropped to 8 540 tonnes in 2020, a decrease of 51.4% from the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, imports fell by 17.3%, with an average annual decline of 6.1%. The largest increase occurred in 2018, rising by 40.1%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, the leading suppliers of milk and cream to Gambia in volume were Malaysia, with 23.6% of imports, the Netherlands at 20.0%, and Thailand with 11.2%. Together, these three countries represented 54.8% of total import volume.

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

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

Imports in value, K $ US

After a two-year upward trend, Gambia's imports of milk and cream in value terms declined. The highest value was recorded in 2019 at 2 502 thousand US dollars, which then fell to 1 512 thousand US dollars in 2020, down 39.6% from the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, imports increased by 13.5%, equivalent to an average annual growth rate of 4.3%. The largest increase was in 2018, with a rise of 41.5%.

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

Throughout 2017 to 2020, the main sources of milk and cream imports to Gambia in value terms were Malaysia, accounting for 24.1% of imports, the Netherlands with 19.9%, and the United Arab Emirates at 9.8%. These three markets together made up 53.7% of total import value.

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

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