Milk market in ECOWAS

Earlier Report Observations

From 2018 to 2023, the ECOWAS milk market volume grew from 4.5 million tons to over 5 million tons. This expansion was underpinned by regional strategic frameworks, notably the ECOWAP/PDDAA 2025, which elevated local milk to a strategic commodity for food sovereignty. Beginning in 2018, a shift from milk powder blends (MGV) toward whole milk powder reconfigured consumption patterns, coinciding with measures to professionalize local dairy actors through functional inter-professional bodies, livestock insurance, and adapted taxation.

Imports peaked at 474 thousand tons in 2020 but then fell to 250 thousand tons by 2023. This decline aligned with intensified regional policies promoting local milk, including enhanced quality, traceability, and food safety standards. Efforts to improve marketing conditions and market regulation, along with the development of new product segments like goat and camel milk, helped strengthen the local dairy sector and reduce reliance on imported products.

Despite persistent challenges such as inadequate storage, energy, and transport infrastructure, continuous initiatives to industrialize local dairy value chains and formalize marketing circuits supported steady production growth from 4.2 million tons in 2018 to 4.8 million tons in 2023. The reinforcement of quality and traceability norms in 2023 and beyond further aimed to build consumer trust in local dairy products.

Production milk in ECOWAS

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of milk, 2017-2020

World map of production of milk, 2017-2020

ECOWAS has seen milk production rise for the third year in a row. In 2020, the region produced 4 428 thousand tonnes of milk, marking a slight increase of 1.5% compared to 2019. Looking at the period from 2017 to 2020, production grew by 6.5%, which translates to an average annual growth rate of 2.1%.

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

In value, 2017-2020, M $ US

In 2020, the value of milk output in ECOWAS was 9 576 million US dollars, showing a modest decline of 7.8% from the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, production value fell by 18.9%, with a compound annual growth rate of -6.7%. The most significant drop occurred in 2018, at 17.8%, while the largest increase was in 2019, at 7.0%.

Annual dynamics of production in ECOWAS in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Exports milk from ECOWAS

Exports in kind, K t

ECOWAS exported 26.1 thousand tonnes of milk in 2020, up 19.1% from the year before. Between 2017 and 2020, exports increased by 17.8%, averaging an annual growth rate of 5.6%. The lowest export volume was recorded in 2019 at 21.9 thousand tonnes, which also saw the largest decline of 13.3%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, the Netherlands consistently led as the top destination for ECOWAS milk exports in volume terms, accounting for 1.7% of total flows.

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

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

Exports in value, M $ US

After two years of decline, ECOWAS milk exports rebounded in value. In 2020, exports reached 56 million US dollars, an 8.1% increase year-on-year. However, over the 2017-2020 period, export value decreased by 10.3%, with an average annual decline of 3.6%. The lowest value was in 2019 at 52 million US dollars, which also experienced the largest drop of 10.0%.

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

During 2017-2020, the Netherlands and Mauritania were the key partners for ECOWAS milk exports in value terms, together making up 2.1% of total flows.

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

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

Imports milk to ECOWAS

Imports in kind, K t

ECOWAS milk imports have increased for the second consecutive year. In 2020, imports amounted to 473.6 thousand tonnes, a sharp rise of 26.8% compared to 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, imports grew by 25.7%, averaging an annual increase of 7.9%. The lowest import volume was in 2018 at 329.2 thousand tonnes, which also saw the largest decline of 12.6%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, milk imports to ECOWAS in volume terms were spread across many markets. New Zealand (15.1% of imports), the Netherlands (15.1%), and Ireland (11.2%) together accounted for 41.3% of total flows.

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

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

Imports in value, M $ US

The market showed noticeable fluctuations during this period. The lowest import value was recorded in 2018 at 645 million US dollars, while the highest was in 2020 at 1 169 million US dollars, representing a 1.8-fold difference between these years. In 2020, milk import volumes in ECOWAS totalled 1 169 million US dollars, a strong increase of 77.3% from the previous year. The largest decline occurred in 2018, at 14.9%.

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

In 2017-2020, three main markets—New Zealand, the Netherlands, and Ireland—collectively accounted for 52.5% of total milk imports to ECOWAS in value terms.

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

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