Unmanufactured tobacco and refuse market in Guinea

Earlier Report Observations

The establishment of a state monopoly on tobacco in Guinea, implemented through the National Tobacco Company (Société Nationale du Tabac) in 2018, centralized control over cultivation, import, export, and industrial processing. This regulatory shift coincided with a 4.2% increase in market volume to 2 533 metric tons in 2019, driven primarily by a surge in imports to 182 metric tons as the monopoly likely facilitated organized procurement to meet domestic demand.

Market volume then fluctuated over the next three years, declining to 2 488 metric tons in 2020 and further to 2 297 metric tons in 2021. The sharp drop in 2021 was largely due to a spike in exports to 153 metric tons, which reduced domestic availability, while imports fell to 73 metric tons. By 2022, the market recovered to 2 420 metric tons as exports normalized and production edged up.

In 2023, the market stabilized at 2 428 metric tons with steady production and minimal trade flows. The government's broader improvements in public procurement and price monitoring mechanisms, introduced that year, provided a more transparent commercial environment for agricultural products including tobacco. The state monopoly remained in place through 2024, supported by strategic plans to modernize public economic governance.

Production unmanufactured tobacco and refuse in Guinea

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Top producers of unmanufactured tobacco and refuse, 2017-2020

World map of production of unmanufactured tobacco and refuse, 2017-2020

Guinea's production of unmanufactured tobacco and refuse has declined for three consecutive years. In 2020, production remained virtually unchanged from the previous year, totaling 2,352 tonnes.

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

Exports unmanufactured tobacco and refuse from Guinea

Exports in kind, t

The market for Guinea's unmanufactured tobacco and refuse exports showed significant fluctuations during this period. In 2017, exports reached their lowest point, while 2018 saw the highest volume at 17.1 tonnes, representing a 2,905.1% increase from the previous year. The largest decline occurred in 2019, with a 77.8% drop. In 2020, exports rebounded sharply to 8.6 tonnes, marking a 126.4% increase compared to 2019.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Côte d'Ivoire dominated Guinea's exports of unmanufactured tobacco and refuse in kind, accounting for 84.2% of total flows. Other countries each held significantly smaller shares.

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

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

Exports in value, K $ US

Guinea's export value of unmanufactured tobacco and refuse was highly volatile during these years. The lowest value was recorded in 2017, while 2018 saw the highest at 44.5 thousand US dollars, a 2,774.0% increase from the previous year. The largest decline occurred in 2019, with a 9.2% drop. In 2020, exports reached 41.2 thousand US dollars, representing a modest 2.0% year-over-year increase.

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

From 2017 to 2020, virtually all of Guinea's exports of unmanufactured tobacco and refuse in value terms were associated with Sierra Leone, which accounted for 100.0% of total flows.

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

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

Imports unmanufactured tobacco and refuse to Guinea

Imports in kind, t

Guinea's imports of unmanufactured tobacco and refuse in kind exhibited an unstable trend during this timeframe. The lowest volume was recorded in 2018 at 86.4 tonnes, while 2019 saw the highest at 181.7 tonnes, a 110.3% increase from the previous year. In 2020, imports declined significantly to 144.5 tonnes, down 20.5% compared to 2019.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Malawi played a dominant role in Guinea's imports of unmanufactured tobacco and refuse in kind, consistently accounting for 100.0% of total flows.

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

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

Imports in value, K $ US

The value of Guinea's imports of unmanufactured tobacco and refuse showed considerable volatility during these years. The lowest value was recorded in 2018 at 460.4 thousand US dollars, while 2019 reached the highest at 913.6 thousand US dollars, a 98.5% increase from the previous year. In 2020, imports declined to 641.1 thousand US dollars, down 29.8% over the past year.

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

From 2017 to 2020, virtually all of Guinea's imports of unmanufactured tobacco and refuse in value terms were associated with Malawi, which accounted for 100.0% of total flows.

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

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