Rice market in Burkina Faso

Earlier Report Observations

The rice market volume in Burkina Faso declined from 965 thousand tons in 2018 to 716.5 thousand tons in 2021. This contraction was primarily driven by falling imports, which were hampered in 2020 by COVID-19 pandemic disruptions to international trade. During this period, the government continued to implement its National Rice Development Strategy, restructuring key industry bodies and developing processing units to strengthen the domestic supply chain. However, ongoing security issues and cattle theft in border regions added pressure on the local sector in 2021.

A sharp reversal occurred in 2022 as the market volume jumped to 1 153.1 thousand tons. The government stimulated import flows by reducing customs duties on rice and suspending certain administrative requirements for importers. That same year, the new 'Faso Dembé' rice processing plant opened in Bama, a cooperative facility aimed at boosting the valuation of local rice production through improved processing capacity.

Market expansion continued into 2023, with volume reaching 1 283.4 thousand tons. This sustained growth was supported by the maintained policy of easier import access and rising domestic production, which increased to 504.3 thousand tons, reflecting the longer-term investments in the local rice value chain.

Production rice in Burkina Faso

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of rice, 2017-2020

World map of production of rice, 2017-2020

Burkina Faso's rice production has increased for the third consecutive year. In 2020, the country produced 451.4 thousand tons of rice, marking a significant gain of 19.9% compared to the previous year. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, production grew by 38.7%, with a compound annual growth rate of 11.5%.

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

Exports rice from Burkina Faso

Exports in kind, K t

The market performance showed noticeable fluctuations during this period. The minimum value was recorded in 2019 at 1.0 thousand tons, while the maximum occurred in 2020 with 4.5 thousand tons, representing a 4.6-fold difference. In 2020, rice deliveries from Burkina Faso saw a dramatic increase of 357.2% compared to the previous year. The largest decline was recorded in 2018 at 60.0%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, three principal markets—Niger, Guinea, and Benin—together accounted for 60.9% of Burkina Faso's total rice exports in kind.

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, M $ US

Market behavior was characterized by volatility during these years. The lowest exports were recorded in 2019 at 0.7 million US dollars, while the highest occurred in 2017, reflecting a 4.3-fold gap. In 2020, Burkina Faso exported 2.0 million US dollars of rice, up by 193.1% year-over-year. The largest decline was recorded in 2018 at 56.5%.

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

In the period from 2017 to 2020, Guinea, Côte d'Ivoire, and Senegal were the main destinations in the geographical breakdown of Burkina Faso's rice exports in value terms. Guinea accounted for 43.4% of exports, Côte d'Ivoire for 20.5%, and Senegal for 10.5%, with a combined share of 74.4% 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 rice to Burkina Faso

Imports in kind, K t

Rice deliveries to Burkina Faso declined for the second consecutive year. In 2020, imports amounted to 407.0 thousand tons, showing a strong reduction of 20.4% compared to 2019. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, imports decreased by 21.2%, equating to an annualized rate of 7.6%. The maximum value was recorded in 2018 at 615.7 thousand tons, with the largest increase also occurring in 2018 at 19.2%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, India, Thailand, and Myanmar were the main destinations in the geographical breakdown of rice imports in kind to Burkina Faso. India accounted for 41.4% of imports, Thailand for 33.2%, and Myanmar for 14.3%, with a combined share of 89.0% of total flows.

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, M $ US

Rice deliveries to Burkina Faso declined for the second consecutive year. In 2020, import volume came to 101.2 million US dollars, showing a loss of 14.4% compared to the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, imports decreased by 14.3%, equating to an annualized rate of 5.0%. The maximum value was recorded in 2018 at 146.3 million US dollars. The largest decline was recorded in 2019 at 19.2%, while the largest increase occurred in 2018 at 23.9%.

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

Over the period from 2017 to 2020, India, Thailand, and Myanmar remained the leading destinations in the country structure of Burkina Faso's rice imports in value terms. India accounted for 40.0% of imports, Thailand for 31.7%, and Myanmar for 13.9%, with a combined share of 85.5% 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