Market research

Sorghum market in Middle Africa

Release date: Mar 28, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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"Middle Africa" region includes following countries:

Angola

Cameroon

Central African Republic

Chad

Congo

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Equatorial Guinea

Gabon

Sao Tome and Principe

Earlier Report Observations

Sorghum production in Middle Africa fluctuated between 2 091 and 2 329 thousand tons from 2018 to 2023. The period began with stable output, though reduced fertilizer application in the primary Bénoué production basin limited growth. A turning point came in 2020 with the launch of the Agricultural Market Investment and Development Project (PIDMA), initiating a long-term shift from subsistence to commercial sorghum farming by involving banks and microfinance institutions.

Recovery in 2021 was supported by a marked increase in the availability of certified seeds in the Far North and North regions. Subsequent years saw the PIDMA project deliver tangible results, including higher yields and the installation of cleaning and storage units by 2023. However, overall production experienced a slight dip in 2023, a period which also saw historically high global fertilizer prices impacting input costs for farmers.

State-led initiatives remained central, with ongoing distribution of foundation seeds and national tender programs for agricultural equipment in 2024 aimed at bolstering the sorghum value chain and adapting to agro-ecological zones.

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. 4.2. Market Trends and Factors
5. Production
1. 5.1. Production in Middle Africa
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in Middle Africa in kind, 2018-2023, K t
2. 5.2. Global production by Country, 2018-2023
  1. 5.2.1. Annual dynamics of production by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023, K 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, K 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 Angola in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Angola 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 Angola in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Angola 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 Angola, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Angola 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 Angola in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Angola 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 Angola in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Angola 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 Angola, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Angola 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 Angola in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Angola 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 Angola in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Angola 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 Angola, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Angola 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 Angola in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Angola 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 Angola in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Angola 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 Angola, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Angola 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 sorghum in Middle Africa

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of sorghum, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of sorghum, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Middle Africa's sorghum production experienced a two-year rise before declining. In 2020, the region produced 2 091 K t of sorghum, marking a 10.0% decrease compared to the previous year. Looking at the period from 2017 to 2020, production fell by 2.9%, which translates to an annualized decline of 1.0%. The highest production level was recorded in 2019 at 2 323 K t, while the largest year-over-year increase occurred in 2018 at 6.8%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	6.8%	0.9%	(10.0%)	(1.0%)

Source: SHEV.io

Exports sorghum from Middle Africa

Exports in kind, t

The market showed an unstable trend over the observed period. Exports reached their lowest point in 2017 and peaked in 2018, with a 12.1-fold difference between these years. In 2020, Middle Africa exported 1 705 t of sorghum, which represents a 40.2% drop from 2019. The maximum export volume was recorded in 2018 at 13 713 t. The largest decline occurred in 2019 with a decrease of 79.2%, while the largest increase was in 2018 at 1 109.5%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	1 109.5%	(79.2%)	(40.2%)	14.6%

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, K $ US

The data reveals irregular changes, pointing to a volatile market environment. Exports hit their lowest point in 2017 and peaked in 2018, showing a 16-fold difference between these years. In 2020, sorghum deliveries from Middle Africa amounted to 2 016 K $ US, which is 114.0% higher than in 2019. The maximum value was recorded in 2018 at 5 531 K $ US. The largest decline took place in 2019 with an 83.0% decrease, while the largest increase was in 2018 at 1 491.7%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	1 491.7%	(83.0%)	114.0%	79.7%

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, Namibia was the core market for exports in value terms, accounting for 0.6% of total flows.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports sorghum to Middle Africa

Imports in kind, t

The data reveals irregular changes, indicating a volatile market environment. Imports reached their lowest point in 2020 and peaked in 2017, with a 168-fold gap between these years. In 2020, Middle Africa imported 89 t of sorghum, representing a dramatic contraction of 99.0% compared to the previous year. The largest increase was recorded in 2019 at 6.8%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(43.3%)	6.8%	(99.0%)	(81.9%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, the United States was the principal market for sorghum imports to Middle Africa, accounting for 73.2% of total imports in kind, while other destinations contributed smaller shares.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, K $ US

Cross-border shipments of sorghum to Middle Africa declined for the third consecutive year. In 2020, Middle Africa imported sorghum worth {value_last_year} K $ US, amounting to a steep loss of 95.5% compared to the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, imports decreased by 97.9%, equating to an annualized decline of 72.5%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(50.5%)	(6.3%)	(95.5%)	(72.5%)

Source: SHEV.io

Throughout 2017 to 2020, the United States accounted for 76.7% of total imports in value terms, while the remaining volume was distributed among many countries with smaller individual shares.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io