Milk market in Western Africa

Earlier Report Observations

The West African milk market expanded from 5.0 million tons in 2018 to 5.5 million tons in 2023, driven primarily by rising urban demand and increasing consumer incomes. This nutritional transition, marked by rapid urbanization, shifted preferences towards processed dairy products and boosted overall consumption. Imported milk powders, particularly skimmed milk powder recombined with vegetable fats, played a key role in meeting this demand due to their low cost and favorable tariffs under ECOWAS agreements, which kept import duties at just 5% for bulk shipments.

From 2020 onwards, imports began to decline while local milk production gradually increased, supported by the growth of mini-dairies focused on collecting and processing domestic milk. The development of these small-scale processing units, which expanded significantly since the late 1990s, helped raise domestic output even though local collection rates remained low. Despite this progress, the local sector faced persistent structural challenges, including weak supply chain infrastructure, limited incentives for smallholder farmers, and insufficient policy coordination.

Market growth slowed noticeably in 2020 and 2021, with volume increases of only 0.2% and 0.5% respectively, as import volumes fell sharply. However, by 2022 and 2023, stronger domestic production growth—reaching 5.2 million tons in 2023—combined with sustained consumer demand restored market expansion to around 2.8% per year. The continued competition from imported milk powders and the lack of coherent public support for local value chains remained limiting factors throughout the period.

Production milk in Western Africa

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of milk, 2017-2020

World map of production of milk, 2017-2020

Milk production in Western Africa has increased for the third consecutive year. In 2020, the region produced 4,784 thousand tonnes of milk, marking a 1.4% rise compared to 2019. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, production grew by 6.1%, with an average annual growth rate of 2.0%.

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

In value, 2017-2020, M $ US

In 2020, the value of milk output in Western Africa was 10,325 million US dollars, showing a moderate decrease of 7.7% from the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, production value declined by 18.1%, which translates to an annualized rate of 6.4%. The largest drop occurred in 2018 at 17.2%, while the biggest increase was in 2019 at 7.1%.

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

Exports milk from Western Africa

Exports in kind, K t

In 2020, milk exports from Western Africa to foreign markets reached 26.1 thousand tonnes, an 18.8% increase year-over-year. Over the 2017-2020 period, exports rose by 16.2%, with a compound annual growth rate of 5.1%. The lowest volume was recorded in 2019 at 22.0 thousand tonnes, which also saw the largest decline of 13.8%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, the Netherlands was the primary destination for milk exports in kind from Western Africa, 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 Western Africa in kind, 2017-2020

Exports in value, M $ US

After a two-year decline, Western Africa's milk export value increased. In 2020, the region exported 56 million US dollars worth of milk, reflecting a moderate gain of 8.1% compared to the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, exports decreased by 10.3%, with an average annual rate of 3.6%. The lowest value was in 2019 at 52 million US dollars, which also experienced the largest decline of 10.0%.

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

Throughout 2017 to 2020, the Netherlands was the leading buyer of milk from Western Africa in value terms, consistently accounting for 1.1% of total exports.

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

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

Imports milk to Western Africa

Imports in kind, K t

Foreign milk supplies to Western Africa have increased for the second consecutive year. In 2020, imports amounted to 564.6 thousand tonnes, representing a significant rise of 13.1% year-over-year. Over the 2017-2020 period, imports grew by 22.6%, with a compound annual growth rate of 7.0%. The lowest volume was recorded in 2018 at 429.9 thousand tonnes, which saw the largest decline of 6.7%, while the biggest increase was in 2019 at 16.1%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, the partner structure for milk imports in kind was balanced rather than concentrated. The Netherlands (16.9% of imports in kind), Germany (12.5%), and New Zealand (12.1%) together represented 41.5% of total flows, with many other countries accounting for the remaining 58.5%.

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

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

Imports in value, M $ US

Western Africa's milk imports have increased for the second consecutive year. In 2020, the region imported approximately 1,243 million US dollars worth of milk, indicating a sharp rise of 60.3% year-over-year. Over the 2017-2020 period, imports increased by 49.1%, with an average annual growth rate of 14.2%. The lowest value was in 2018 at 736 million US dollars, which recorded the largest decline of 11.8%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, milk was supplied to Western Africa from a broad set of markets. New Zealand (21.9% of imports in value terms), the Netherlands (16.4%), and Ireland (11.6%) together accounted for 49.9% of total imports, while many smaller destinations formed the remaining 50.1%.

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

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