Semi-milled or wholly milled rice market in Senegal

Earlier Report Observations

The semi-milled rice market in Senegal expanded steadily from 739 thousand tonnes in 2018 to 1 056 thousand tonnes in 2023, with total volume surpassing one million tonnes after a substantial import surge in 2022. Early in the period, customs duties of 12.7% on rice influenced trade costs and contributed to relatively low import levels. Domestic production also showed a general upward trend, rising from 728 thousand tonnes to 917 thousand tonnes over the same span, indicating growing local supply.

Regulatory interventions played a key role in shaping market conditions. In 2021, the government enacted consumer protection legislation that set price ceilings for staple goods including rice, aiming to stabilize retail costs and maintain accessibility. A more intensive phase of price control began in 2024, with authorities lowering the ceiling for non-aromatic broken rice to 410 FCFA/kg and fixing a promotional price of 350 FCFA/kg for locally produced white rice. These measures, implemented alongside a fall in international rice prices and indexed import mechanisms, were designed to shield consumer purchasing power and encourage a shift toward domestic rice consumption.

Production semi-milled or wholly milled rice in Senegal

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of semi-milled or wholly milled rice, 2017-2020

World map of production of semi-milled or wholly milled rice, 2017-2020

In 2020, Senegal produced 814.3 thousand tonnes of semi-milled or wholly milled rice, representing a solid year-over-year increase of 16.7%. Between 2017 and 2020, production grew by 33.5%, which translates to an annualized growth rate of 10.1%. The largest decline occurred in 2019, with a drop of 4.2%, while the largest increase was recorded in 2018 at 19.4%.

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

Exports semi-milled or wholly milled rice from Senegal

Exports in kind, K t

The market exhibited volatility during the observed period. In 2018, exports reached their minimum at 0.2 thousand tonnes, while in 2019 they peaked at 12.3 thousand tonnes, showing a 65-fold difference between these years. In 2020, Senegal's export volume of semi-milled or wholly milled rice was 11.6 thousand tonnes, marking a year-over-year decline of 6.3%. The largest decline occurred in 2018, with a drop of 79.2%, whereas the largest increase was in 2019, soaring by 6,371.0%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Senegal's exports in kind were heavily concentrated on Mali, which accounted for 89.9% of total flows, with the remaining volume distributed among other trading partners.

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

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

Exports in value, K $ US

Market performance showed noticeable fluctuations over the period. In 2018, exports hit a low of 183 thousand US dollars, while in 2019 they reached a high of 5,143 thousand US dollars, resulting in a 28-fold variation. In 2020, semi-milled or wholly milled rice exports from Senegal amounted to 4,955 thousand US dollars, down 3.7% year-over-year. The largest decline was in 2018, with a decrease of 56.1%, and the largest increase was in 2019, rising by 2,715.5%.

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

Between 2017 and 2020, Mali was the primary buyer of semi-milled or wholly milled rice from Senegal, accounting for 89.7% of total export value, while a diverse group of other countries made up the remainder.

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

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

Imports semi-milled or wholly milled rice to Senegal

Imports in kind, K t

The market displayed volatility throughout the observed period. In 2018, imports were at their lowest point of 11.2 thousand tonnes, while in 2019 they peaked at 100.9 thousand tonnes, showing a 9-fold fluctuation. In 2020, Senegal imported 22.1 thousand tonnes of semi-milled or wholly milled rice, a sharp year-over-year decline of 78.1%. The largest increase occurred in 2019, with a rise of 801.3%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, India and Thailand together dominated Senegal's imports in kind, capturing 87.1% of total flows, with the rest thinly spread across other markets.

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

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

Imports in value, K $ US

The data indicates irregular changes, reflecting a volatile market environment. In 2018, imports were at a minimum of 3,900 thousand US dollars, while in 2019 they reached a maximum of 41,219 thousand US dollars, exhibiting a peak-to-trough amplitude of 10.6 times. In 2020, foreign supplies of semi-milled or wholly milled rice to Senegal amounted to 10,853 thousand US dollars, indicating an intense year-over-year decline of 73.7%. The largest increase was recorded in 2019, with a surge of 956.8%.

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

Throughout 2017 to 2020, India and Thailand clearly dominated Senegal's imports in value terms for semi-milled or wholly milled rice, jointly accounting for 83.9% of total flows, while other countries held much smaller shares.

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

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