Millet market in Sub-Saharan Africa

Earlier Report Observations

The millet market in Sub-Saharan Africa began the period with a volume of 13.1 million tons in 2018, underpinned by small-scale, rain-fed farming practices prevalent across the region. However, millet consumption remained largely rural, and its decline in urban areas contributed to a contraction in market size to 12.4 million tons in 2019.

After a recovery to 13.1 million tons in 2020, the market dropped sharply to 10.7 million tons in 2021. Government initiatives in major producing nations like Nigeria, Niger, and Mali—featuring seed subsidies, mechanization aid, and community storage units—subsequently reduced post-harvest losses from 20-30% to around 15%, facilitating market expansion and driving volume up to 12.7 million tons in 2022. The United Nations' designation of 2023 as the International Year of Millets heightened global focus on the crop, though the market volume eased to 12.2 million tons that year.

Throughout 2018 to 2023, the market's fundamental structure of low-yield cultivation persisted, while soil degradation continued to act as a constraint on agricultural productivity.

Production millet in Sub-Saharan Africa

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of millet, 2017-2020

World map of production of millet, 2017-2020

In 2020, Sub-Saharan Africa produced 13,119 thousand tons of millet, representing a modest 5.9% increase from the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, production grew by 10.2%, with an average annual growth rate of 3.3%. The largest decline occurred in 2019, when production fell by 5.6%. However, this was followed by the strongest growth in 2018, which saw a 10.2% increase, reaching the peak production level of 13,123 thousand tons that year.

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

In value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Millet production in Sub-Saharan Africa increased for the third consecutive year in 2020. The output was valued at 8,835 million US dollars, marking a controlled rise of 6.3% compared to 2019. Between 2017 and 2020, production value surged by 34.7%, which translates to an annualized growth rate of 10.4%.

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

Exports millet from Sub-Saharan Africa

Exports in kind, t

The market showed an unstable trend throughout the period. Export volumes reached their lowest point in 2018 at 2,457 tons, before recovering. By 2020, foreign millet supplies from Sub-Saharan Africa totaled 3,853 tons, representing a sharp decrease of 25.3% from the previous year. The most significant decline occurred in 2018, when exports dropped by 80.5%, while the largest increase was recorded in 2019 with a 109.8% surge. Overall, from the high in 2017 to the low in 2018, export volumes varied by a factor of 5.1.

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

From 2017 to 2020, France (3.0% of exports in kind), Canada (1.1%), and Israel (0.8%) remained the top buyers of millet from Sub-Saharan Africa. Together, these three countries accounted for 4.9% of total exports in kind.

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, K $ US

The market exhibited an unstable trend throughout the timeframe. The lowest export value was recorded in 2018 at 1,403 thousand US dollars, while the highest occurred in 2017, resulting in a peak-to-trough ratio of 4.9 times. In 2020, millet exports from Sub-Saharan Africa amounted to 2,595 thousand US dollars, marking a significant decline of 25.0% compared to 2019. The largest decrease was in 2018, when exports fell by 79.8%, followed by the biggest increase in 2019 with a 146.5% rise.

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

The structure of exports in value terms from 2017 to 2020 was diversified. The United States (2.8% of exports in value terms), France (2.5%), and Canada (2.2%) together accounted for just 7.5% of total flows, with no single country holding a clearly dominant position.

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 millet to Sub-Saharan Africa

Imports in kind, t

Imported millet volumes in Sub-Saharan Africa increased for the second consecutive year in 2020. Imports totaled 18,765 tons, reflecting a sharp increase of 30.5% over the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, imports grew by 2.4%, with an average annual growth rate of 0.8%. The lowest import volume was recorded in 2018 at 12,312 tons, which also saw the largest decline of 32.8%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, the partner landscape for imports in kind was broad. Ukraine (18.4% of imports in kind), India (11.7%), and Russia (5.8%) together accounted for 35.9% of total flows, while the remaining 64.1% came from many other countries.

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, K $ US

Millet shipments to Sub-Saharan Africa from abroad increased for the second consecutive year in 2020. Imports amounted to 9,385 thousand US dollars, indicating a gain of 33.9% versus the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, imports surged by 38.6%, equating to an annualized rate of 11.5%. The minimum value was recorded in 2018 at 5,208 thousand US dollars, which also experienced the largest decline of 23.1%. The most significant increase occurred in 2019 with a 34.6% rise.

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

From 2017 to 2020, the partner portfolio for imports in value terms of millet to Sub-Saharan Africa was quite broad. India (19.6% of imports in value terms), Ukraine (18.5%), and Russia (6.7%) together represented only 44.8% of total flows.

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