Unroasted, not decaffeinated coffee market in ECOWAS

Earlier Report Observations

Between 2018 and 2023, the green coffee market in ECOWAS experienced significant fluctuations. Market volume started at 296.5 thousand tonnes in 2018, fell to 250.4 thousand tonnes in 2019, then recovered to a peak of 325.1 thousand tonnes in 2021 before declining to 230.5 thousand tonnes in 2023. In value terms, the market dropped from $521.3 million USD in 2018 to $381.0 million in 2019, then rose steadily to $577.3 million in 2022, only to fall back to $431.0 million in 2023.

After a contraction in 2019, the market rebounded in 2020 as reduced European demand due to the COVID-19 pandemic lowered ECOWAS exports and increased domestic availability, pushing volume to 280.1 thousand tonnes. In 2022, despite a slight volume dip to 307.8 thousand tonnes, market value rose to $577.3 million USD, supported by rising consumer coffee prices in key importing regions. The sharp drop in 2023, with volume falling to 230.5 thousand tonnes, coincided with Brazil's strengthening grip on global supply and new green coffee processing capacity in China, which altered international trade flows.

Production unroasted, not decaffeinated coffee in ECOWAS

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of unroasted, not decaffeinated coffee, 2017-2020

World map of production of unroasted, not decaffeinated coffee, 2017-2020

ECOWAS's production of unroasted, non-decaffeinated coffee declined for the second year in a row. In 2020, the region produced 352.7 thousand tons, which was 3.6% lower than in 2019. Looking at the period from 2017 to 2020, production grew by 28.5%, with an average annual growth rate of 8.7%. The highest production level was recorded in 2018 at 384.0 thousand tons. The largest year-on-year decrease occurred in 2019, when production fell by 4.7%, while the biggest increase was in 2018, with a jump of 40.0%.

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

In value, 2017-2020, M $ US

ECOWAS's production value of unroasted, non-decaffeinated coffee also fell for the second consecutive year. In 2020, the output was valued at 511.2 million US dollars, down 8.6% from 2019. Over the four-year span from 2017 to 2020, production value increased by 4.5%, translating to an average annual growth rate of 1.5%. The peak value was reached in 2018 at 674.2 million US dollars. The sharpest decline happened in 2019, with a drop of 17.1%, whereas the largest increase was in 2018, rising by 37.9%.

Annual dynamics of production in ECOWAS in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Exports unroasted, not decaffeinated coffee from ECOWAS

Exports in kind, K t

Export volumes showed significant volatility during this period. The lowest point was in 2017, followed by a peak in 2019, with a 2.5-fold difference between these years. In 2020, ECOWAS exported 76.8 thousand tons of unroasted, non-decaffeinated coffee, marking a 35.6% decrease compared to the previous year. The highest export volume was recorded in 2019 at 119.2 thousand tons. The most substantial increase occurred in 2018, when exports surged by 89.8%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Algeria, Spain, and Morocco were the key markets for ECOWAS's coffee exports in volume terms. Algeria accounted for 42.2% of exports, Spain for 13.5%, and Morocco for 8.3%. Together, these three countries represented 64.0% of total export flows.

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

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

Exports in value, M $ US

Export values followed an unstable pattern over these years. The lowest value was in 2017, and the highest in 2019, with a 2.2-fold gap between them. In 2020, ECOWAS's coffee exports were valued at 111.2 million US dollars, reflecting a sharp decline of 38.9% from 2019. The peak value was in 2019 at 182.1 million US dollars. The largest increase took place in 2018, with a rise of 86.9%.

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

In value terms, Algeria, Spain, and Morocco remained the top destinations for ECOWAS's coffee exports from 2017 to 2020. Algeria held a 45.1% share, Spain 13.7%, and Morocco 8.4%. Combined, these markets made up 67.2% of total export value.

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

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

Imports unroasted, not decaffeinated coffee to ECOWAS

Imports in kind, K t

ECOWAS's imports of unroasted, non-decaffeinated coffee increased for the third consecutive year. In 2020, imports reached 4.1 thousand tons, up 12.6% from 2019. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, import volumes grew by 133.4%, equivalent to an average annual rate of 32.7%.

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

Between 2017 and 2020, imports of unroasted, non-decaffeinated coffee into ECOWAS were relatively evenly distributed among various sources. China accounted for 12.9% of imports, India for 7.8%, and Brazil for 4.8%. Together, these three countries represented just 25.4% of total import flows.

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

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

Imports in value, M $ US

In 2020, ECOWAS's imports of unroasted, non-decaffeinated coffee were valued at 5.3 million US dollars, showing a 37.2% increase compared to 2019. From 2017 to 2020, import value rose by 30.7%, with an average annual growth rate of 9.3%. The lowest value was recorded in 2019 at 3.9 million US dollars, which also saw the largest decline of 7.2% that year.

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

From 2017 to 2020, the import market in value terms was highly diversified. Brazil accounted for 15.6% of imports, India for 15.0%, and China for 13.0%. Together, these three countries made up only 43.6% of total flows, with the remaining 56.4% coming from a wide range of smaller markets.

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

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