Market research

Watermelons market in Western Africa

Release date: Mar 28, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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File format: docx, xlsx

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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

The fresh watermelon market in Western Africa experienced strong growth in volume from 2018 to 2020, expanding from 1 685 thousand tons to 2 509 thousand tons. This increase of nearly 50% was highlighted by a particularly sharp rise in 2020.

Following the peak, market volume corrected to 2 311 thousand tons in 2021 and then entered a phase of stabilization, remaining around 2 280 to 2 262 thousand tons through 2022 and 2023. The period saw the market consolidate at a level significantly higher than the 2018 base.

In monetary terms, the market value mirrored the volumetric trend, soaring to 1 488 million USD in 2020. Subsequently, value declined to 1 269 million USD in 2021 and fell further to 903 million USD by 2023, indicating a more pronounced contraction in market value compared to physical volume.

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. 4.1.2. In value
    1. 4.1.2.1. Production, 2018-2023
    2. 4.1.2.2. Imports, 2018-2024
    3. 4.1.2.3. Exports, 2018-2024
    4. 4.1.2.4. 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 watermelons in Western Africa

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of watermelons, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of watermelons, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Watermelon production in Western Africa has increased for the third consecutive year. In 2020, the region produced 2 519 K t of watermelons, marking a sharp 32.5% improvement compared to 2019. Between 2017 and 2020, production surged by 244.3%, equating to an annualized growth rate of 51.0%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	131.9%	12.1%	32.5%	51.0%

Source: SHEV.io

In value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Western Africa's watermelon production value has risen for the third year in a row. In 2020, the output was valued at 1 497 M $ US, representing a 62.2% gain from 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, production increased by 262.4%, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 53.6%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	103.5%	9.8%	62.2%	53.6%

Source: SHEV.io

Exports watermelons from Western Africa

Exports in kind, t

The market performance showed noticeable fluctuations during this period. Exports reached their lowest point in 2018 at 11 886 t, then peaked in 2019 at 28 428 t—a 2.4-fold difference. In 2020, Western Africa's watermelon exports totaled 17 674 t, down 37.8% from the previous year. The largest increase was recorded in 2019 at 139.2%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(22.5%)	139.2%	(37.8%)	4.8%

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, Spain clearly dominated watermelon exports in kind from Western Africa, accounting for 84.6% of total flows, while other countries each held significantly smaller shares.

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

The market exhibited an unstable trend throughout the timeframe. Export values fluctuated 2.3 times between the low of 5 890 K $ US in 2018 and the high of 13 803 K $ US in 2019. In 2020, Western Africa exported 10 505 K $ US of watermelons, showing a substantial 23.9% drop from the previous year. The largest decline was recorded in 2018 at 32.0%, while the largest increase occurred in 2019 at 134.3%.

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	(32.0%)	134.3%	(23.9%)	6.6%

Source: SHEV.io

During 2017–2020, Spain absorbed 85.3% of total watermelon exports in value terms from Western Africa, with the balance spread across a wide range of smaller destinations.

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 watermelons to Western Africa

Imports in kind, t

The data reveals irregular changes, indicating a volatile market environment. Import levels fluctuated 7.3 times between the low of 1 034 t in 2018 and the high of 7 517 t in 2020. In 2020, Western Africa's watermelon imports amounted to 7 517 t, which is 460.0% greater than in 2019. The largest decline was recorded in 2018 at 36.7%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(36.7%)	29.8%	460.0%	66.3%

Source: SHEV.io

Throughout 2017–2020, Morocco (42.9% of imports in kind), Portugal (3.3% of imports in kind), and Spain (1.5% of imports in kind) formed the key group of partners for watermelon imports in kind to Western Africa, jointly representing 47.7% 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

Western Africa's watermelon import value has increased for the third consecutive year. In 2020, imports amounted to 1 609 K $ US, representing a steep 68.0% rise from 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, imports grew by 149.4%, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 35.6%.

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	10.1%	34.9%	68.0%	35.6%

Source: SHEV.io

In 2017–2020, Morocco (35.8% of imports in value terms), Portugal (16.8% of imports in value terms), and Spain (8.1% of imports in value terms) continued to head the list of watermelon suppliers to Western Africa, jointly taking 60.7% of total imports in value terms.

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