Market research

Primary sugar crops market in Nigeria

Release date: Mar 30, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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File format: docx, xlsx

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Earlier Report Observations

Between 2018 and 2020, Nigeria's primary sugar crops market volume grew from 1.5 million tons to over 1.51 million tons. This steady increase was primarily driven by the Nigerian Sugar Master Plan and its backward integration policy, which incentivized major refiners like Dangote, BUA Foods, and Flour Mills to invest in expanding sugarcane plantations and processing facilities. Smallholder farmers also returned to sugarcane cultivation, reversing previous shifts to other crops.

After a slight contraction in 2021, production stabilized around 1.51 million tons in 2022 and 2023. This resilience was supported by continued backward integration investments, such as Flour Mills' expansion of its Sunti Golden Sugar Estate, and sustained government measures including protective tariffs and Central Bank foreign exchange support for raw sugar imports. Concurrently, strong demand from the growing food and beverage sector, particularly bakery and confectionery, provided a stable market for local output.

The policy framework was reinforced in 2023 with a 10-year extension of the Sugar Master Plan, aiming for greater self-sufficiency. Major companies deployed advanced technologies like satellite imagery for farm management to improve yields, while evolving consumer preferences increased demand for vitamin-fortified and brown sugar variants. These elements, combined with ongoing protective tariffs and outgrower initiatives, underpinned the market's steady performance.

Table of content

1. Disclaimer
2. Terms of use of the report
3. Product codes in the statistical classifications used in the report
4. Key Market Indicators and Trends
1. 4.1. Key Market Indicators
  1. 4.1.1. In kind
    1. 4.1.1.1. Production, 2018-2023
    2. 4.1.1.2. Imports, 2018-2024
    3. 4.1.1.3. Exports, 2018-2024
    4. 4.1.1.4. Market size, 2018-2023
2. 4.2. Market Trends and Factors
5. Production
1. 5.1. Production in Nigeria
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in Nigeria in kind, 2018-2023, K t
  2. 5.1.2. Annual dynamics of production in Nigeria in value, 2018-2023, $ US
2. 5.2. Global production by Country, 2018-2023
  1. 5.2.1. Annual dynamics of production by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023, K t
  2. 5.2.2. Dynamics of production structure by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023
  3. 5.2.3. Annual dynamics of production by country in kind, 2018-2023, K t
  4. 5.2.4. Structure of production by countries in kind, 2018-2023
  5. 5.2.5. Dynamics of peoduction structure by countries in kind, 2018-2023
6. Imports
1. 6.1. Imports (Direct Data)
  1. 6.1.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 6.1.2. Imports in kind, kg
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Nigeria in kind, 2018-2024, kg
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Nigeria by countries, 2018-2024, kg
    3. 6.1.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.1.3. Imports in value, $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Nigeria in value, 2018-2024, $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Nigeria by countries, 2018-2024, $ US
    3. 6.1.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.1.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 6.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Nigeria, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Nigeria by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
2. 6.2. Imports (Mirror Data)
  1. 6.2.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 6.2.2. Imports in kind, kg
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Nigeria in kind, 2018-2024, kg
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Nigeria by countries, 2018-2024, kg
    3. 6.2.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.2.3. Imports in value, $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Nigeria in value, 2018-2024, $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Nigeria by countries, 2018-2024, $ US
    3. 6.2.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.2.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 6.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Nigeria, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Nigeria by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
7. Exports
1. 7.1. Exports (Direct Data)
  1. 7.1.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 7.1.2. Exports in kind, kg
    1. 7.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Nigeria in kind, 2018-2024, kg
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Nigeria by countries, 2018-2024, kg
    3. 7.1.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.1.3. Exports in value, $ US
    1. 7.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Nigeria in value, 2018-2024, $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Nigeria by countries, 2018-2024, $ US
    3. 7.1.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.1.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 7.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Nigeria, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Nigeria by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
2. 7.2. Exports (Mirror Data)
  1. 7.2.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 7.2.2. Exports in kind, kg
    1. 7.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Nigeria in kind, 2018-2024, kg
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Nigeria by countries, 2018-2024, kg
    3. 7.2.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.2.3. Exports in value, $ US
    1. 7.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Nigeria in value, 2018-2024, $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Nigeria by countries, 2018-2024, $ US
    3. 7.2.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.2.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 7.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Nigeria, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Nigeria by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
8. Trade balance
1. 8.1. Trade balance (Direct Data)
  1. 8.1.1. In kind, kg
  2. 8.1.2. In value, $ US
2. 8.2. Trade balance (Mirror Data)
  1. 8.2.1. In kind, kg
  2. 8.2.2. In value, $ US
9. Top buying and selling countries, 2018-2024
1. 9.1. Direct Data
  1. 9.1.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.1.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers
2. 9.2. Mirror Data
  1. 9.2.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.2.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers

Production primary sugar crops in Nigeria

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of primary sugar crops, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of primary sugar crops, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Nigeria's primary sugar crops production has increased for the third year in a row. In 2020, the country produced 1 518 thousand tonnes, marking a slight rise of 0.9% compared to 2019.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	0.2%	0.3%	0.9%	0.5%

Source: SHEV.io

Exports primary sugar crops from Nigeria

Exports in kind, kg

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Nigeria in kind, 2017-2020, kg

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	n/a	n/a	n/a	-

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, Saudi Arabia was consistently the main and nearly exclusive destination for Nigeria's primary sugar crops exports in kind, holding a 100.0% share throughout this period.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, $ US

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	n/a	n/a	n/a	-

Source: SHEV.io

During the 2017–2020 timeframe, Nigeria's exports in value terms were overwhelmingly concentrated on Saudi Arabia, which accounted for 100.0% of the total export value.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports primary sugar crops to Nigeria

Imports in kind, kg

In 2018, Nigeria imported 399.3 kilograms of primary sugar crops, representing a sharp decline of 97.1% compared to 2017.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Nigeria in kind, 2017-2020, kg

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(97.1%)	n/a	n/a	-

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, $ US

Nigeria imported approximately 296 US dollars worth of primary sugar crops in 2018, which was a decrease of 97.0% compared to 2017.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(97.0%)	n/a	n/a	-

Source: SHEV.io

Between 2017 and 2020, almost all imports of primary sugar crops to Nigeria in value terms were linked to China, which accounted for 90.3% of the total import value.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io