Market research

Sorghum market in Western Africa

Release date: Mar 28, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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"Western Africa" region includes following countries:

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

Earlier Report Observations

From 2018 to 2023, the sorghum market in West Africa showed notable fluctuations. A sharp contraction occurred in 2021, with the market size falling to 12.2 million tons. This was primarily caused by adverse weather conditions and regional conflicts, particularly in areas like Mopti and Ségou, which significantly reduced planted areas and harvests. In response to rising prices, governments implemented export bans on cereals to secure domestic supply, further shaping trade flows.

The market rebounded strongly in 2022, reaching 14.0 million tons. This recovery was fueled by robust industrial demand within the region, especially in Nigeria, where sorghum is increasingly used as a substitute for imported barley in beer and non-alcoholic beverage production. This growing offtake stimulated investments and supported higher production volumes. Despite a subsequent dip in 2023, interest in sorghum cultivation remained high, evidenced by production growth in Niger and international emphasis on the crop's role in reducing import dependency.

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 Western Africa
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in Western 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. Imports
1. 6.1. Imports (Direct Data*)
  1. 6.1.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 6.1.2. Imports in kind, t
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Cabo Verde in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Cabo Verde by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 6.1.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.1.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Cabo Verde in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Cabo Verde by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 6.1.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.1.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 6.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Cabo Verde, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Cabo Verde by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
2. 6.2. Imports (Mirror Data)
  1. 6.2.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 6.2.2. Imports in kind, t
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Cabo Verde in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Cabo Verde by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 6.2.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.2.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Cabo Verde in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Cabo Verde by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 6.2.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.2.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 6.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Cabo Verde, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Cabo Verde by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
7. Exports
1. 7.1. Exports (Direct Data*)
  1. 7.1.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 7.1.2. Exports in kind, t
    1. 7.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Cabo Verde in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Cabo Verde by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 7.1.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.1.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Cabo Verde in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Cabo Verde by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 7.1.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.1.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 7.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Cabo Verde, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Cabo Verde by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
2. 7.2. Exports (Mirror Data)
  1. 7.2.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 7.2.2. Exports in kind, t
    1. 7.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Cabo Verde in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Cabo Verde by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 7.2.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.2.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Cabo Verde in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Cabo Verde by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 7.2.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.2.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 7.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Cabo Verde, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Cabo Verde 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 Western 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

In 2020, Western Africa produced 13,853 K t of sorghum, marking a 4.3% increase from the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, production grew by 8.5%, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.7%. The largest decline occurred in 2019, at 3.8%, while the most significant increase was in 2018, at 8.1%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	8.1%	(3.8%)	4.3%	2.7%

Source: SHEV.io

Exports sorghum from Western Africa

Exports in kind, t

Market performance showed noticeable fluctuations during this period. Exports bottomed in 2018 at 571 t and peaked in 2020 at 11,181 t, representing a 20-fold difference. In 2020, sorghum shipments from Western Africa to abroad reached 11,181 t, a year-over-year rise of 555.6%. The largest decline was recorded in 2018, at 74.6%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(74.6%)	198.6%	555.6%	70.6%

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, K $ US

Western Africa's sorghum export volume increased for the third consecutive year. In 2020, exports reached 3,660 K $ US, up 220.3% year-over-year. Between 2017 and 2020, exports surged by 432.1%, equating to an annualized growth rate of 74.6%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	27.0%	30.8%	220.3%	74.6%

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports sorghum to Western Africa

Imports in kind, t

Market performance exhibited noticeable fluctuations during this period. Imports peaked in 2017 and fell to their lowest point in 2020, with a 4.2-fold gap between these years. In 2020, the volume of sorghum imports to Western Africa came to 2,816 t, marking a 70.3% year-over-year decline. The largest increase was recorded in 2019, at 31.2%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(39.5%)	31.2%	(70.3%)	(38.2%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, the partner portfolio for sorghum imports in kind to Western Africa was quite broad. China accounted for 11.4% of imports in kind, the United States for 5.4%, and the United Kingdom for 3.1%, together representing only 19.9% of total flows.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, K $ US

In 2020, sorghum imports to Western Africa stood at 3,706 K $ US, which is 35.4% lower compared to 2019. Between 2017 and 2020, imports decreased by 43.2%, equating to an annualized decline of 17.2%. The largest increase was recorded in 2019, at 11.6%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(21.1%)	11.6%	(35.4%)	(17.2%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, China, the United States, and the United Kingdom were the main destinations in the geographical breakdown of sorghum imports in value terms to Western Africa. China accounted for 40.6% of imports in value terms, the United States for 13.9%, and the United Kingdom for 7.7%, with a combined share of 62.2% of total flows.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io