Market research

Milk market in Sub-Saharan Africa

Release date: Mar 30, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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"Sub-Saharan Africa" region includes following countries:

Cabo Verde

Benin

Gambia

Ghana

Guinea

Côte d'Ivoire

Liberia

Mali

Mauritania

Niger

Nigeria

Guinea-Bissau

Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha

Senegal

Sierra Leone

Togo

Burkina Faso

British Indian Ocean Territory

Burundi

Comoros

Mayotte

Ethiopia

Eritrea

French Southern Territories

Djibouti

Kenya

Madagascar

Malawi

Mauritius

Mozambique

Reunion

Rwanda

Seychelles

Somalia

Zimbabwe

South Sudan

Uganda

Tanzania

Zambia

Angola

Cameroon

Central African Republic

Chad

Congo

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Equatorial Guinea

Gabon

Sao Tome and Principe

Botswana

Lesotho

Namibia

South Africa

Eswatini

Earlier Report Observations

The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), ratified in 2018 and implemented from 2019, began removing tariff barriers and unifying regional trade, which supported growth in the milk market volume from 31 204 thousand tons in 2018 to 33 405 thousand tons in 2019. Market value also increased from 68.6 billion US dollars to 72.8 billion US dollars over the same period, even as limited political support for smallholder farmers posed a structural challenge to production.

In 2020, the growing penetration of supermarkets in food retail altered distribution channels for dairy products, helping to sustain consumption and volume growth to 33 815 thousand tons. However, market value dipped to 69.1 billion US dollars, and by 2021 volume reached 35 373 thousand tons while value fell further to 63.1 billion US dollars, reflecting shifts in market prices or structure.

The market then saw accelerated growth, with volume rising to 36 858 thousand tons in 2023 and value surging sharply to 103.2 billion US dollars. This strong appreciation coincided with underlying demographic and economic trends, including population growth, urbanization, and rising middle-class incomes, which increased demand for processed dairy products.

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. 4.1.2. In value
    1. 4.1.2.1. Production, 2018-2023
    2. 4.1.2.2. Imports, 2018-2024
    3. 4.1.2.3. Exports, 2018-2024
    4. 4.1.2.4. Market size, 2018-2023
2. 4.2. Market Trends and Factors
5. Production
1. 5.1. Production in Sub-Saharan Africa
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in Sub-Saharan Africa 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, K t
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Cabo Verde in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Cabo Verde by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 6.1.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.1.3. Imports in value, M $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Cabo Verde in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Cabo Verde by countries, 2018-2024, M $ 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 Cabo Verde, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Cabo Verde 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, K t
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Cabo Verde in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Cabo Verde by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 6.2.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.2.3. Imports in value, M $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Cabo Verde in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Cabo Verde by countries, 2018-2024, M $ 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 Cabo Verde, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Cabo Verde 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, K t
    1. 7.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Cabo Verde in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Cabo Verde by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 7.1.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.1.3. Exports in value, M $ US
    1. 7.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Cabo Verde in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Cabo Verde by countries, 2018-2024, M $ 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 Cabo Verde, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Cabo Verde 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, K t
    1. 7.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Cabo Verde in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Cabo Verde by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 7.2.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.2.3. Exports in value, M $ US
    1. 7.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Cabo Verde in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Cabo Verde by countries, 2018-2024, M $ 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 Cabo Verde, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Cabo Verde by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
8. Trade balance
1. 8.1. Trade balance (Direct Data)
  1. 8.1.1. In kind, K t
  2. 8.1.2. In value, M $ US
2. 8.2. Trade balance (Mirror Data)
  1. 8.2.1. In kind, K t
  2. 8.2.2. In value, M $ 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 in Sub-Saharan Africa

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of milk, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of milk, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Milk production in Sub-Saharan Africa has grown for the third year in a row. In 2020, the region produced 32 983 K t of milk, marking a 1.3% increase from 2019. From 2017 to 2020, production rose by 11.7%, which translates to an average annual growth rate of 3.8%.

Annual dynamics of production in Sub-Saharan Africa in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	3.1%	6.9%	1.3%	3.8%

Source: SHEV.io

In value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Following two years of growth, milk production in Sub-Saharan Africa saw a decline. In 2020, the output was valued at 67 426 M $ US, down 5.7% from the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, production increased by 13%, with a compound annual growth rate of 4.2%. The peak value was recorded in 2019 at 71 487 M $ US, while the largest increase occurred in 2018 with a 12.9% rise.

Annual dynamics of production in Sub-Saharan Africa in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	12.9%	6.1%	(5.7%)	4.2%

Source: SHEV.io

Exports milk from Sub-Saharan Africa

Exports in kind, K t

After two years of decline, milk exports from Sub-Saharan Africa rebounded. In 2020, exports reached 118 K t, up 7.6% from 2019. From 2017 to 2020, exports fell by 16.3%, averaging an annual decrease of 5.8%. The lowest volume was in 2019 at 109 K t, and the sharpest drop happened in 2018 with a 15.2% decline.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(15.2%)	(8.3%)	7.6%	(5.8%)

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's exports from Sub-Saharan Africa in kind, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, M $ US

Following two years of decrease, milk exports from Sub-Saharan Africa showed a slight uptick. In 2020, exports were valued at 240 M $ US, remaining largely unchanged from the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, exports decreased by 15.3%, with an average annual decline of 5.4%. The lowest value was recorded in 2019 at 240 M $ US, which also saw the largest drop of 9.0%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(7.2%)	(9.0%)	0.2%	(5.4%)

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's exports from Sub-Saharan Africa in value, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Imports milk to Sub-Saharan Africa

Imports in kind, K t

In 2020, milk imports to Sub-Saharan Africa totaled 950 K t, showing little change from the previous year. From 2017 to 2020, imports decreased by 13.3%, with a compound annual growth rate of -4.6%. The lowest volume was in 2018 at 866 K t, which also experienced the largest decline of 20.9%. In contrast, 2019 saw the biggest increase of 10.2%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(20.9%)	10.2%	(0.5%)	(4.6%)

Source: SHEV.io

Between 2017 and 2020, Sub-Saharan Africa imported milk from numerous countries. Even the top suppliers—the Netherlands, Portugal, and New Zealand—collectively accounted for only 28.3% of total imports by volume.

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

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to Sub-Saharan Africa in kind, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, M $ US

Milk imports to Sub-Saharan Africa have risen for the third consecutive year. In 2020, imports amounted to 1 923 M $ US, a 25.1% increase year-over-year. From 2017 to 2020, imports grew by 31.1%, with a compound annual growth rate of 9.4%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	1.0%	3.8%	25.1%	9.4%

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, Sub-Saharan Africa's milk import partners were diverse. The leading sources—New Zealand (17.4% of import value), the Netherlands (14.1%), and Ireland (8.1%)—together made up just 39.7% of total import flows.

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

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to Sub-Saharan Africa in value, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io