Wheat and meslin flour and cereals market in Burkina Faso

Earlier Report Observations

Between 2018 and 2023, the market volume for wheat and meslin flour and cereals in Burkina Faso contracted from 179.3 thousand tons to 166.7 thousand tons, with a low of 157.6 thousand tons in 2022. This decline was primarily driven by a sharp reduction in imports, which fell from 64.7 thousand tons in 2018 to 16.7 thousand tons in 2023, as global supply disruptions – including the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war – led to steep price increases for imported flour, making it less affordable.

In response, domestic production expanded from 114.6 thousand tons in 2018 to 150.0 thousand tons in 2023. The government relaunched local wheat cultivation through the 'offensive agropastorale 2023‑2025' program, allocating hundreds of hectares for wheat and supplying seeds to farmers. Regulatory measures, including special import authorisation rules and a ban on cereal exports, aimed to control market access and stabilize prices under the oversight of state-owned SONAGESS.

The sustained high flour prices also spurred innovation, with artisans introducing bread made from locally-grown cereals like millet and sorghum, creating a new product segment. A major expansion of domestic processing capacity occurred with the 2024 inauguration of the Moulin Double Star flour mill, which added 220 tons of daily output, further supporting the shift toward local production.

Production wheat and meslin flour and cereals in Burkina Faso

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of wheat and meslin flour and cereals, 2017-2020

World map of production of wheat and meslin flour and cereals, 2017-2020

In Burkina Faso, production of wheat and meslin flour and cereals reached 103.1 thousand tonnes in 2020, marking a 14.0% decrease compared to the previous year. Looking at the period from 2017 to 2020, overall production declined by 14.9%, which translates to an average annual decrease of 5.3%. The most significant increase occurred in 2019, with a rise of 4.5%.

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

Exports wheat and meslin flour and cereals from Burkina Faso

Exports in kind, t

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

From 2017 to 2020, nearly all exports in kind of wheat and meslin flour and cereals from Burkina Faso were directed to Senegal, which accounted for 100.0% of total flows during this period.

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

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

Exports in value, K $ US

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

Between 2017 and 2020, the export market structure was highly concentrated, with Senegal being the sole destination, responsible for 100.0% of total exports in value terms.

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

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

Imports wheat and meslin flour and cereals to Burkina Faso

Imports in kind, t

In 2020, Burkina Faso imported 70 257 tonnes of wheat and meslin flour and cereals, representing an 11.4% increase year-over-year. Over the 2017–2020 period, imports grew by 11.6%, averaging an annual rise of 3.7%. The largest decline was observed in 2019, with a decrease of 2.5%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana were the dominant partners for imports in kind, while other countries collectively made up the remaining share.

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

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

Imports in value, K $ US

Wheat and meslin flour and cereals imports into Burkina Faso declined for the second consecutive year. In 2020, the total import value was 22 017 thousand US dollars, down 0.7% from the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, imports decreased by 10.5%, equating to an average annual decline of 3.6%. The highest value was recorded in 2018 at 27 155 thousand US dollars. The most significant drop occurred in 2019, with an 18.3% decrease, while the largest increase was in 2018, at 10.3%.

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

Throughout 2017–2020, Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana were the key partner countries for imports in value terms, together accounting for 89.4% of total flows; other partners represented the remainder.

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

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