Poultry meat and offal market in Benin

Earlier Report Observations

From 2018 to 2019, the poultry meat market in Benin expanded from 128.8 thousand tons to 135.7 thousand tons, largely sustained by imported volumes. During this period, the government launched its first public initiative to support local poultry farming through a national table egg project, and the Poultry Cooperative of Benin was established to unite distributors and promote local processing. The policy of import substitution gained momentum, encouraged by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Benin, and new improved local breeds like 'Zado' were introduced to differentiate domestic chicken from imported poultry.

After a contraction to 109.3 thousand tons in 2020, the market rebounded strongly, reaching 135.2 thousand tons in 2021 and 151.6 thousand tons in 2022. This surge was primarily fueled by a sharp increase in imports, which rose from 89.7 thousand tons in 2020 to 132.9 thousand tons in 2022. The growth in imports was accelerated by the government's repeated announcements of a forthcoming ban on frozen chicken and egg imports. In 2021, Minister Gaston Dossouhoui first publicly stated the intention to halt such imports by the end of 2024, prompting importers to build up stocks beforehand. The pre-announcement was reiterated in 2022, keeping import volumes high.

In 2023, the market size grew modestly to 155.9 thousand tons, with imports stabilizing at 132.5 thousand tons and local production increasing to 23.4 thousand tons. The import ban was formally announced in April 2023, setting December 31, 2024 as the effective date. Concurrently, a legislative framework and an information campaign were rolled out to prepare the sector for the transition. By 2024, public incentives such as subsidies for inputs and simplified procedures for modern slaughterhouses were strengthened, reinforcing the move toward greater self-sufficiency.

Production poultry meat and offal in Benin

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Top producers of poultry meat and offal, 2017-2020

World map of production of poultry meat and offal, 2017-2020

Benin's poultry meat and offal production saw a two-year increase before declining. In 2019, production reached its peak at 30 054 tonnes. However, by 2020, it had dropped to 19 587 tonnes, marking a significant 34.8% decrease from the previous year. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, overall production fell by 30.6%, with an average annual decline of 11.5%. The largest year-on-year increase occurred in 2018, when production rose by 3.2%.

Annual dynamics of production in Benin in kind, 2017-2020, t

Exports poultry meat and offal from Benin

Exports in kind, K t

Benin's poultry meat and offal exports totaled 11.0 thousand tonnes in 2019, which represented a sharp 37.8% drop compared to 2018. The peak export volume was recorded in 2018 at 17.7 thousand tonnes. Between 2017 and 2019, exports decreased by 29.5%, translating to an annualized decline of 11.0%. The largest increase in exports was observed in 2018, with a growth of 13.3%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Benin's poultry meat and offal exports were entirely dependent on Nigeria, which accounted for 100.0% of all export flows.

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

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

Exports in value, M $ US

The market for Benin's poultry meat and offal exports showed considerable volatility during this period. In 2018, export value peaked at 30.8 million US dollars, but by 2019, it had fallen to 19.6 million US dollars, reflecting a steep 36.2% year-on-year decline. This represented a 1.6-fold difference between the high in 2018 and the low in 2019. The largest increase in export value occurred in 2018, with a rise of 34.5%.

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

Throughout 2017 to 2020, Nigeria was the sole destination for Benin's poultry meat and offal exports in value terms, capturing 100.0% of the total export flows.

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

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

Imports poultry meat and offal to Benin

Imports in kind, K t

Benin's imports of poultry meat and offal declined for the second year in a row. In 2018, imports reached their highest point at 117.4 thousand tonnes. By 2020, imports had decreased to approximately 89.7 thousand tonnes, showing a substantial 23.1% reduction from the previous year. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, imports fell by 20.4%, with an average annual decrease of 7.3%. The largest increase in imports was recorded in 2018, with a growth of 4.1%.

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

Between 2017 and 2020, Benin's imports of poultry meat and offal were relatively evenly distributed among several countries. France accounted for 18.6% of imports, Spain for 11.4%, and Italy for 11.4%, with these three countries together making up only 41.5% of total import flows.

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

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

Imports in value, M $ US

Benin's imports of poultry meat and offal in value terms also declined for two consecutive years. In 2018, import value peaked at 110.8 million US dollars. By 2020, it had dropped to 79.4 million US dollars, indicating a 24.3% decrease compared to the previous year. From 2017 to 2020, imports decreased by 21%, equivalent to an annualized decline of 7.6%. The largest increase in import value was in 2018, with a rise of 10.2%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Benin's imports of poultry meat and offal in value terms came from a diverse range of partners. France contributed 18.5% of import value, Spain 11.5%, and Italy 11.4%, with these three countries collectively representing only 41.3% of total import flows.

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

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