Market research

Snails market in Africa

Release date: Mar 27, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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File format: docx, xlsx

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"Africa" region includes following countries:

Algeria

Libya

Morocco

Sudan

Western Sahara

Tunisia

Egypt

Cabo Verde

Benin

Gambia

Ghana

Guinea

Côte d'Ivoire

Liberia

Mali

Mauritania

Niger

Nigeria

Guinea-Bissau

Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha

Senegal

Sierra Leone

Togo

Burkina Faso

British Indian Ocean Territory

Burundi

Comoros

Mayotte

Ethiopia

Eritrea

French Southern Territories

Djibouti

Kenya

Madagascar

Malawi

Mauritius

Mozambique

Reunion

Rwanda

Seychelles

Somalia

Zimbabwe

South Sudan

Uganda

Tanzania

Zambia

Angola

Cameroon

Central African Republic

Chad

Congo

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Equatorial Guinea

Gabon

Sao Tome and Principe

Botswana

Lesotho

Namibia

South Africa

Eswatini

Earlier Report Observations

Between 2018 and 2021, the snail market volume in Africa grew from 4 717 t to 5 748 t. This increase was primarily supported by a decline in exports, which fell from 13 472 t to 12 495 t over the period, making more production available for domestic consumption while output remained stable around 18 000 t.

The market expansion accelerated from 2022, reaching 9 917 t in 2023. This growth coincided with a shift in consumer preferences toward higher-quality and safer food products, which boosted demand for snails. Improved market infrastructure, including upgrades to fresh produce markets, facilitated better distribution and access for consumers. Additionally, regulatory developments focusing on traceability and labeling began shaping production and marketing standards.

In 2024, factors such as lower fertilizer costs and strengthened food safety regulations likely influenced production economics and compliance requirements for market participants, continuing to shape the industry's evolution.

Table of content

1. Disclaimer
2. Terms of use of the report
3. Product codes in the statistical classifications used in the report
4. Key Market Indicators and Trends
1. 4.1. Key Market Indicators
  1. 4.1.1. In kind
    1. 4.1.1.1. Production, 2018-2023
    2. 4.1.1.2. Imports, 2018-2024
    3. 4.1.1.3. Exports, 2018-2024
    4. 4.1.1.4. Market size, 2018-2023
  2. 4.1.2. In value
    1. 4.1.2.1. Production, 2018-2023
    2. 4.1.2.2. Imports, 2018-2024
    3. 4.1.2.3. Exports, 2018-2024
    4. 4.1.2.4. Market size, 2018-2023
2. 4.2. Market Trends and Factors
5. Production
1. 5.1. Production in Africa
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in Africa in kind, 2018-2023, t
2. 5.2. Global production by Country, 2018-2023
  1. 5.2.1. Annual dynamics of production by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023, t
  2. 5.2.2. Dynamics of production structure by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023
  3. 5.2.3. Annual dynamics of production by country in kind, 2018-2023, t
  4. 5.2.4. Structure of production by countries in kind, 2018-2023
  5. 5.2.5. Dynamics of peoduction structure by countries in kind, 2018-2023
6. Exports
1. 6.1. Exports (Direct Data*)
  1. 6.1.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 6.1.2. Exports in kind, t
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Algeria in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Algeria by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 6.1.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.1.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Algeria in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Algeria by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 6.1.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.1.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 6.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Algeria, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Algeria by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
2. 6.2. Exports (Mirror Data)
  1. 6.2.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 6.2.2. Exports in kind, t
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Algeria in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Algeria by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 6.2.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.2.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Algeria in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Algeria by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 6.2.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.2.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 6.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Algeria, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Algeria by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
7. Imports
1. 7.1. Imports (Direct Data*)
  1. 7.1.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 7.1.2. Imports in kind, t
    1. 7.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Algeria in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Algeria by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 7.1.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.1.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Algeria in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Algeria by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 7.1.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.1.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 7.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Algeria, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Algeria by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
2. 7.2. Imports (Mirror Data)
  1. 7.2.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 7.2.2. Imports in kind, t
    1. 7.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Algeria in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Algeria by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 7.2.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.2.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Algeria in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Algeria by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 7.2.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.2.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 7.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Algeria, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Algeria by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
8. Trade balance
1. 8.1. Trade balance (Direct Data)
  1. 8.1.1. In kind, t
  2. 8.1.2. In value, K $ US
2. 8.2. Trade balance (Mirror Data)
  1. 8.2.1. In kind, t
  2. 8.2.2. In value, K $ US
9. Top buying and selling countries, 2018-2024
1. 9.1. Direct Data
  1. 9.1.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.1.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers
2. 9.2. Mirror Data
  1. 9.2.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.2.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers

Production snails in Africa

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Top producers of snails, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of snails, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

In 2020, Africa produced 18 338 tons of snails, marking a 2.3% increase from the previous year. From 2017 to 2020, production grew by 5%, averaging an annual growth rate of 1.6%. The largest decline occurred in 2019, with a drop of 0.8%, while the most significant increase was in 2018, at 3.4%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	3.4%	(0.8%)	2.3%	1.6%

Source: SHEV.io

In value, 2017-2020, K $ US

After two years of growth, Africa's snail production value declined. In 2020, the output was valued at 21 213 thousand US dollars, representing a sharp 11.7% decrease compared to 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, production value increased by 12.7%, with a compound annual growth rate of 4.1%. The highest value was recorded in 2019 at 24 023 thousand US dollars, which also saw the largest increase of 14.5%.

Annual dynamics of production in Africa in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	11.5%	14.5%	(11.7%)	4.1%

Source: SHEV.io

Exports snails from Africa

Exports in kind, t

In 2020, Africa exported 11 213 tons of snails, showing minimal change from 2019. From 2017 to 2020, exports decreased by 7.8%, with a compound annual decline rate of 2.7%. The lowest volume was in 2019 at 11 159 tons, while the highest was in 2018 at 13 472 tons. The largest decline occurred in 2019, at 17.2%, and the biggest increase was in 2018, at 10.7%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	10.7%	(17.2%)	0.5%	(2.7%)

Source: SHEV.io

Between 2017 and 2020, Spain remained the primary market for snail exports in volume, accounting for 74.6% of total flows. The remaining volume was distributed among numerous other destinations.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, K $ US

Snail exports from Africa declined for the second consecutive year. In 2020, exports totaled 12 972 thousand US dollars, a 13.3% decrease year-over-year. The highest value was recorded in 2018 at 15 648 thousand US dollars, which also experienced the largest increase of 19.3%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	19.3%	(4.4%)	(13.3%)	(0.4%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, the main destinations for snail exports in value terms were Spain (57.9% of exports), Italy (17.8%), and Portugal (13.1%). Together, these three countries accounted for 88.7% of total export flows.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports snails to Africa

Imports in kind, t

The market showed significant volatility during this period. Imports varied 8.7-fold between the peak in 2018 and the low in 2020. In 2020, Africa imported 15 tons of snails, an 82.4% drop from the previous year. The highest volume was in 2018 at 127 tons, which also saw the largest increase of 88.1%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	88.1%	(34.2%)	(82.4%)	(39.9%)

Source: SHEV.io

Between 2017 and 2020, snail imports to Africa came from a diverse range of markets. Spain (16.0% of imports in volume), China (1.4%), and Portugal (0.9%) together accounted for only 18.3% of total imports, with the remaining 81.7% sourced from many smaller destinations.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, K $ US

Market performance exhibited noticeable fluctuations during this period. Import values varied 4.1-fold between the high in 2018 and the low in 2020. In 2020, snail imports to Africa amounted to 97 thousand US dollars, a steep 58.1% decline from the prior year. The maximum value was in 2018 at 393 thousand US dollars, which also recorded the largest increase of 135.4%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	135.4%	(41.2%)	(58.1%)	(16.6%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, the partner landscape for snail imports in value terms was broad. Spain (28.4% of imports), France (9.8%), and Greece (7.2%) together formed only 45.4% of total flows, while a substantial 54.6% came from many other countries.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io