Rice market in Liberia

Earlier Report Observations

Starting in 2018, when the Liberian government announced plans to achieve food self-sufficiency by 2022, the rice market volume stood at 504.4 thousand tonnes. An aggressive approach to reducing imports, which cost about $200 million annually, was accompanied by intentions to invest in agricultural infrastructure. By 2019, the market grew to 674.0 thousand tonnes, but in 2020, economic uncertainty due to declining mineral exports, inflation, and currency depreciation led to a drop in imports and a contraction of the market volume to 506.2 thousand tonnes.

A subsequent recovery lifted the market to 635.2 thousand tonnes in 2021. Significant support programs were launched in 2022, including an additional $30 million in funding from the World Bank to boost rice production and a program by the Government of France to revitalize the sector. However, domestic production remained stable at around 256 thousand tonnes, and market volume increased only marginally to 662.8 thousand tonnes, primarily driven by imports.

A sharp 26.8% rise in international rice prices in 2023, triggered by India's ban on non-basmati rice exports and Russia's withdrawal from the Black Sea Grain Initiative, directly impacted the Liberian market. In response, the government maintained price controls, setting fixed wholesale and retail prices for a 25 kg bag. This contributed to a 26.6% increase in domestic production to 324 thousand tonnes, while imports also surged significantly, driving the market volume to a record 982.2 thousand tonnes. In 2024, preliminary results from the 2022/2023 Agricultural Census were published to aid sector planning.

Production rice in Liberia

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of rice, 2017-2020

World map of production of rice, 2017-2020

Liberia's rice production has grown for the third consecutive year. In 2020, the country produced 279.0 thousand tons of rice, marking a modest increase of 0.9% compared to 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, production rose by 12.7%, with an average annual growth rate of 4.1%.

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

Exports rice from Liberia

Exports in kind, K t

In 2020, Liberia's rice exports totaled 0.0 thousand tons, representing a 36.3% decline from 2019.

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

From 2017 to 2020, the United States and Sierra Leone were the primary destinations for Liberia's rice exports in volume terms, together accounting for 100.0% of total shipments.

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

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

Exports in value, M $ US

In 2020, the value of Liberia's rice exports fell to 0.0 million US dollars, a dramatic 99.4% drop year-over-year.

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

Between 2017 and 2020, the United States was by far the largest buyer of Liberian rice in value terms, making up 99.8% of total export earnings.

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

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

Imports rice to Liberia

Imports in kind, K t

In 2020, Liberia imported 227.2 thousand tons of rice, a sharp 42.9% decrease from 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, imports declined by 19.4%, with an average annual decrease of 6.9%. The peak was in 2019 at 397.6 thousand tons, which also saw the largest annual increase of 61.3%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, India was the leading supplier of rice to Liberia in volume terms, accounting for 74.9% of total imports, while other countries supplied the remainder.

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

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

Imports in value, M $ US

In 2020, Liberia's rice imports amounted to 126.6 million US dollars, showing a significant 20.3% decline compared to the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, imports fell by 27.5%, equivalent to an average annual decrease of 10.2%. The largest increase occurred in 2019, at 10.7%.

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

Throughout 2017-2020, India remained the primary source of Liberia's rice imports in value terms, capturing 76.2% of total import spending, with the rest distributed among various smaller markets.

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

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