Sunflower seeds market in Middle Africa

Earlier Report Observations

The market for sunflower seeds in Middle Africa experienced steady, incremental growth from 12 055 tonnes in 2018 to 12 419 tonnes in 2023. This expansion was primarily driven by a consistent rise in domestic production, which increased each year over the period. The market's volume grew at a modest pace, with the largest single-year gain occurring in 2022 when it added 104 tonnes.

A key development supporting production growth was the introduction of magnetic seed treatment technology in 2021, which improved germination rates and seed weight. This innovation likely contributed to the ongoing increase in local output. While global factors such as adverse weather in the Black Sea basin affected worldwide supply and prices from 2023 onward, the Middle African market's reliance on domestic production shielded its volume from significant disruption, allowing consumption to follow a stable upward path.

Production sunflower seeds in Middle Africa

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Top producers of sunflower seeds, 2017-2020

World map of production of sunflower seeds, 2017-2020

Sunflower seed production in Middle Africa has increased for the third consecutive year. In 2020, the region produced 12 151 tonnes of sunflower seeds, representing a 0.6% rise compared to the previous year.

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

Exports sunflower seeds from Middle Africa

Exports in kind, kg

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Middle Africa in kind, 2017-2020, kg

From 2017 to 2020, exports of sunflower seeds from Middle Africa were almost entirely directed to Hong Kong, which accounted for 100.0% of total shipments.

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

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

Exports in value, $ US

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

During the 2017–2020 period, Hong Kong effectively dominated the value of sunflower seed exports from Middle Africa, holding a 100.0% share of total flows.

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

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

Imports sunflower seeds to Middle Africa

Imports in kind, kg

The market showed an unstable trend over this period. Imports reached their lowest point in 2017 and peaked in 2019, with a 4.3-fold difference between these years. In 2020, Middle Africa's sunflower seed import volume was 23 957 kg, down 53.8% year-over-year. The largest increase occurred in 2018, at 234.3%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Middle Africa in kind, 2017-2020, kg

From 2017 to 2020, the main suppliers of sunflower seeds to Middle Africa in terms of volume were Portugal (43.0% of imports), South Africa (12.8% of imports), and France (11.3% of imports), together accounting for 67.1% of total imports.

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

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

Imports in value, $ US

Cross-border shipments of sunflower seeds to Middle Africa declined for the second consecutive year. In 2020, import value stood at 27 051 US dollars, marking a modest 7.1% decrease from the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, imports fell by 24.3%, equivalent to an annualized rate of 8.8%. The highest value was recorded in 2018 at 50 926 US dollars. The largest decline occurred in 2019, at 42.8%, while the largest increase was in 2018, at 42.6%.

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

Throughout 2017–2020, Portugal (34.1% of import value), South Africa (33.1% of import value), and France (7.7% of import value) were the leading sources of sunflower seed imports to Middle Africa in value terms, collectively representing 74.8% of total flows.

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

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