Rice market in Gambia

Earlier Report Observations

The rice market in Gambia experienced significant fluctuations between 2018 and 2021. Market volume dropped from 233 thousand tons in 2018 to 194 thousand tons in 2019, then surged to 307 thousand tons in 2020 before falling back to 232 thousand tons in 2021. The government's free-trade policy for rice importers introduced in 2018 facilitated access to imported rice, while domestic production gradually increased from 27 thousand tons to 40 thousand tons over this period.

From 2022, the market entered a growth phase, reaching 301 thousand tons by 2023. This was primarily driven by the GIRAV project, which distributed 42 million dalasis in subsidies to rice farmers to boost local production, and by the government's consideration to reduce port clearance costs for importers, easing the flow of imported rice. Domestic production rose to 47 thousand tons in 2023, while imports recovered to 254 thousand tons.

In 2024, global rice prices began to fall, leading to lower consumer prices, and the central bank reported a decrease in food inflation to 13% by July. The government maintained close collaboration with the central bank and port authorities to ensure foreign currency availability and swift clearance of staple imports, including rice, while continuing efforts to increase local production to reduce import dependency.

Production rice in Gambia

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Top producers of rice, 2017-2020

World map of production of rice, 2017-2020

Rice production in Gambia increased for the second consecutive year. In 2020, 40 288 tonnes of rice were produced, marking a dramatic 26.3% increase compared to the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, production grew by 34.3%, which translates to an annualized growth rate of 10.3%. The lowest production level was recorded in 2018 at 26 800 tonnes, which also saw the largest decline of 10.7%.

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

Exports rice from Gambia

Exports in kind, K t

In 2020, rice exports from Gambia totaled 0.3 thousand tonnes, representing a steep increase of 2,013.0% over the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, exports surged by 12,238%, equating to an annualized growth rate of 397.8%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Gambia's rice exports in kind were highly concentrated, with Guinea-Bissau accounting for 99.7% of total flows.

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

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

Exports in value, K $ US

In 2020, rice deliveries from Gambia reached 49 thousand US dollars, reflecting an abrupt increase of 1,370.8% compared to the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, exports grew by 3,380.3%, which corresponds to an annualized rate of 226.5%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Guinea-Bissau and Senegal were the key destinations for Gambia's rice exports in value terms, jointly accounting for 98.9% of total flows, while other partners were individually much less significant.

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

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

Imports rice to Gambia

Imports in kind, K t

In 2020, Gambia imported approximately 266.9 thousand tonnes of rice, up by 64.6% compared to the previous year. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, imports increased by 65.6%, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 18.3%. The largest decline was recorded in 2019 at 21.5%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Brazil, India, and Pakistan consistently remained the main sources for Gambia's rice imports in kind, accounting for 40.7%, 18.7%, and 14.3% of imports, respectively. Together, these three countries made up 73.7% of total flows.

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

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

Imports in value, K $ US

In 2020, rice imports to Gambia stood at 44 472 thousand US dollars, marking a substantial uptick of 10.3% over the past year. The minimum value was recorded in 2019 at 40 322 thousand US dollars, while the maximum was in 2018 at 51 166 thousand US dollars. The largest decline occurred in 2019 at 21.2%, and the largest increase was in 2018 at 16.5%.

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

Over the period from 2017 to 2020, Brazil, India, and Pakistan made the biggest contribution to Gambia's rice imports in value terms, accounting for 35.0%, 16.7%, and 14.5% of imports, respectively. Collectively, these three countries represented 66.2% of total flows.

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

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