Rice market in Western Africa

Earlier Report Observations

From 2018 to 2020, the West African rice market volume declined from 29 130 thousand tons to 27 824 thousand tons. This contraction occurred despite continued state and ECOWAS support for local production, as stagnant agricultural land due to urbanization limited output growth, and reliance on Asian imports exposed the market to supply risks that reduced incoming shipments.

Market volume rebounded strongly from 2021, reaching 33 489 thousand tons by 2023. The turnaround was driven by the launch of a major $19 billion ECOWAS plan for regional rice self-sufficiency by 2035, coupled with sustained investments in irrigation infrastructure, agricultural mechanization, and value chain development. Rising consumption fueled by urbanization further underpinned the expansion.

In 2023 and 2024, growth continued albeit with increased imports to bridge the supply gap, as local production rose but could not fully meet demand. New product launches like fortified rice and strengthened international partnerships aimed at improving productivity, while policies to curb fraudulent imports sought to stabilize the market.

Production rice in Western Africa

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of rice, 2017-2020

World map of production of rice, 2017-2020

Rice production in Western Africa declined after two years of growth. In 2019, production reached its peak at 20 732 thousand tonnes, but by 2020 it had fallen to 20 441 thousand tonnes, representing a 1.4% decrease. Over the 2017-2020 period, production increased by 7.1%, with an average annual growth rate of 2.3%. The most significant year-on-year increase occurred in 2018, when production rose by 8.2%.

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

Exports rice from Western Africa

Exports in kind, K t

After two years of growth, rice exports from Western Africa declined. In 2019, exports peaked at 118 thousand tonnes, but by 2020 they had dropped sharply to 52 thousand tonnes, a decrease of 55.6%. Between 2017 and 2020, exports fell by 29.4%, which translates to an average annual decline of 11.0%. The largest year-on-year increase was recorded in 2018, when exports grew by 38.2%.

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

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

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

Exports in value, M $ US

Foreign rice supplies from Western Africa declined after two years of growth. In 2019, exports reached their highest value at 66 million US dollars, but by 2020 they had fallen to 42 million US dollars, marking a sudden decline of 36.9%. Over the 2017-2020 period, exports decreased by 4.8%, with an average annual decline of 1.6%. The largest increase occurred in 2019, when export value rose by 28.1%.

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

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

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

Imports rice to Western Africa

Imports in kind, K t

Rice imports to Western Africa declined for the second consecutive year. In 2018, imports reached their maximum volume at 8 581 thousand tonnes, but by 2020 they had fallen to 7 435 thousand tonnes, representing an 8.3% decrease compared to 2019. Between 2017 and 2020, imports decreased by 12.5%, equating to an average annual decline of 4.4%. The largest year-on-year increase was recorded in 2018, when imports grew by 0.9%.

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

Throughout the 2017-2020 period, India, Thailand, and Vietnam formed the key group of partners for rice imports to Western Africa in volume terms. India accounted for 34.5% of imports, Thailand for 22.2%, and Vietnam for 12.3%. Together, these three countries represented 69.0% of total import flows.

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

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

Imports in value, M $ US

In 2020, rice deliveries to Western Africa totaled 3 054 million US dollars, remaining almost unchanged from 2019's figure of 3 037 million US dollars. Between 2017 and 2020, imports decreased by 16.5%, which translates to an average annual decline of 5.8%. The maximum value was recorded in 2018 at 3 780 million US dollars, while the minimum was in 2019. The largest decline occurred in 2019 with a 19.6% decrease, while the largest increase was recorded in 2018 with 3.3% growth.

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

During the 2017-2020 period, India, Thailand, and Vietnam continued to be the main suppliers of rice to Western Africa in value terms. India accounted for 33.3% of imports, Thailand for 24.6%, and Vietnam for 14.5%. Collectively, these three countries formed 72.3% of total import value.

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

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