Millet market in Burkina Faso

Earlier Report Observations

The millet market in Burkina Faso began the period at a high volume of 1 189 thousand tons in 2018, but a subsequent decline in average yield signaled emerging challenges. Market volume dropped to 965 thousand tons in 2019 and then stabilized around 954 thousand tons in 2020. During this stabilization phase, the market was constrained by the persistently low adoption of improved millet varieties, which limited crop productivity and kept output subdued.

A sharp contraction followed in 2021, with market volume falling to 715 thousand tons, driven by a significant drop in national cereal production that year. Recovery emerged in 2022 as volume rebounded to 908 thousand tons. This turnaround was supported by a government ban on exports of millet, corn, and sorghum flours, implemented in February 2022 to conserve domestic supply after the production crash, alongside a modest recovery in national grain output despite ongoing regional supply and security challenges.

The market volume dipped again to 863 thousand tons in 2023. Although forecasted production for cash crops, including millet, showed a slight increase, continued supply difficulties in conflict-affected regions limited household access to agricultural markets, restraining overall market size.

Production millet in Burkina Faso

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Between 2017 and 2020, Burkina Faso ranked as the world's eighth-largest producer of millet.

Top producers of millet, 2017-2020

World map of production of millet, 2017-2020

Millet production in Burkina Faso fell for the second year in a row. In 2020, the country produced 957 thousand tons of millet, a slight decrease of 1.3% from the previous year. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, production grew by 15.6%, which translates to an average annual increase of 4.9%. The highest output was recorded in 2018 at 1 189 thousand tons, with the largest annual increase of 43.6% that same year. In contrast, 2019 saw the steepest decline of 18.4%.

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

Exports millet from Burkina Faso

Exports in kind, t

Export volumes showed an unstable pattern during this period. Exports hit their lowest point in 2019 and peaked in 2017, with a 1.7-fold difference between these years. In 2020, Burkina Faso exported 6 960 tons of millet, representing a 33.8% increase from 2019.

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

From 2017 to 2020, nearly all of Burkina Faso's millet exports in volume terms went to Niger, which accounted for 97.6% of the total.

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

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

Exports in value, K $ US

In 2020, millet exports from Burkina Faso were valued at 368 thousand US dollars, a sharp drop of 68.4% from the year before. Between 2017 and 2020, export value decreased by 80.9%, averaging an annual decline of 42.4%.

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

During 2017–2020, the export market in value terms was highly concentrated, with Niger alone making up 93.8% of total flows.

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

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

Imports millet to Burkina Faso

Imports in kind, t

Import volumes were volatile over the observed timeframe. Imports reached their lowest level in 2019 and peaked in 2020, with a 346-fold difference between these years. In 2020, Burkina Faso imported 3 455 tons of millet, a massive increase of 34 450.0% compared to 2019. The minimum volume was recorded in 2019 at just 10 tons, which also saw the largest decline of 93.8%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Mali was virtually the sole supplier of millet to Burkina Faso in volume terms, capturing 100.0% of total imports.

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

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

Imports in value, K $ US

The data shows irregular fluctuations, pointing to a volatile market. Import values fell to their lowest point in 2019 and hit their maximum in 2020, with a gap of 1 346 times between these years. In 2020, imported millet volumes in Burkina Faso amounted to 286 thousand US dollars, indicating an extraordinary increase of 134 524.7% from the previous year. The minimum value was recorded in 2019 at 0.2 thousand US dollars, which also experienced the largest decline of 93.7%.

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

Throughout 2017–2020, Mali was the dominant partner for imports in value terms, accounting for 100.0% of total flows.

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

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