Milk powder with fat content of ≤1.5% market in Sub-Saharan Africa

Earlier Report Observations

The market for milk powder with fat content of ≤1.5% in Sub-Saharan Africa showed considerable movement from 2018 to 2023. It grew from 147 thousand tonnes in 2018 to 163 thousand tonnes in 2019, then expanded sharply to a peak of 229 thousand tonnes in 2020. This was followed by a pronounced contraction, with the market volume falling to 144 thousand tonnes in 2021 and continuing to decline to 108 thousand tonnes by 2023.

Changes in import volumes were the dominant force behind these swings. Imports surged from 142 thousand tonnes in 2018 to 237 thousand tonnes in 2020, effectively doubling the available supply. After 2020, imports fell steadily, dropping to 116 thousand tonnes in 2023 and contributing directly to the smaller market size.

Domestic production varied between 10 and 15 thousand tonnes annually, playing a secondary role in the overall market volume. Export levels fluctuated but remained modest in scale, so their net impact on the total market was limited compared to the large shifts in import activity.

Production milk powder with fat content of ≤1.5% in Sub-Saharan Africa

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Top producers of milk powder with fat content of ≤1.5%, 2017-2020

World map of production of milk powder with fat content of ≤1.5%, 2017-2020

In Sub-Saharan Africa, milk powder production with a fat content of ≤1.5% reached 11 806 tonnes in 2020, marking a 14.7% increase from 2019. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, production grew by 11%, averaging an annual growth rate of 3.5%. The lowest production level was recorded in 2019 at 10 291 tonnes, while the highest was in 2018 at 13 371 tonnes. The most significant production decline occurred in 2019, dropping by 23.0%, whereas the largest increase was in 2018, rising by 25.7%.

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

Exports milk powder with fat content of ≤1.5% from Sub-Saharan Africa

Exports in kind, K t

The market for milk powder exports with a fat content of ≤1.5% in Sub-Saharan Africa showed an unstable trend during the analyzed period. Exports reached their lowest point in 2018 at 8.4 thousand tonnes and peaked in 2017, resulting in a 2.8-fold variation between these years. In 2020, exports amounted to 20.0 thousand tonnes, representing a 39.1% increase compared to the previous year. The largest decline was recorded in 2018 at 64.7%, while the most substantial increase occurred in 2019, rising by 70.3%.

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

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

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

Exports in value, M $ US

Following a two-year decline, milk powder exports with a fat content of ≤1.5% from Sub-Saharan Africa rebounded. In 2020, exports totaled 54.5 million US dollars, showing a sharp year-on-year increase of 56.7%. Over the 2017-2020 period, however, exports decreased by 5.6%, with a compound annual growth rate of -1.9%. The lowest value was recorded in 2019 at 34.8 million US dollars, and the largest decline occurred in 2018, falling by 24.8%.

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

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

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

Imports milk powder with fat content of ≤1.5% to Sub-Saharan Africa

Imports in kind, K t

Imports of milk powder with a fat content of ≤1.5% into Sub-Saharan Africa increased for the second consecutive year. In 2020, imports amounted to 237.4 thousand tonnes, up by 41.8% compared to the previous year. From 2017 to 2020, imports grew by 61.3%, averaging an annual growth rate of 17.3%. The minimum import volume was recorded in 2018 at 141.8 thousand tonnes, and the largest decline occurred in the same year, dropping by 3.6%.

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

Between 2017 and 2020, the largest suppliers of milk powder with a fat content of ≤1.5% to Sub-Saharan Africa were Ireland, accounting for 16.9% of imports in kind, New Zealand at 16.2%, and the Netherlands at 10.1%. Together, these three countries contributed 43.2% of total imports in kind, indicating a diversified import structure with no single dominant supplier.

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

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

Imports in value, M $ US

Milk powder imports with a fat content of ≤1.5% into Sub-Saharan Africa rose for the second year in a row. In 2020, import value reached 663.8 million US dollars, increasing by 67.8% compared to the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, imports surged by 100.1%, with a compound annual growth rate of 26.0%. The lowest value was recorded in 2018 at 309.7 million US dollars, and the largest decline occurred in that same year, falling by 6.7%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, the partner portfolio for milk powder imports in value terms to Sub-Saharan Africa was quite broad. New Zealand led with 21.4% of imports in value terms, followed by Ireland at 15.5%, and Belgium at 9.5%. Collectively, these top three suppliers represented only 46.4% of total import flows, highlighting a diverse and fragmented market structure.

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

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