Wheat and meslin flour and cereals market in Cabo Verde

Earlier Report Observations

Between 2018 and 2020, the market for wheat and meslin flour and cereals in Cabo Verde expanded from 17 054 t to 20 560 t. This growth occurred as the government implemented fixed selling prices for wheat and corn flour in 2020 to shield households from international price increases and supply disruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic, a measure that helped maintain consumption.

Market volume contracted to 16 019 t in 2021. In 2022, a direct agreement between the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and the state-owned importer MOAVE reduced the wholesale price of a 50 kg bag of wheat flour by 11‑15%, supporting a recovery to 17 392 t. However, in 2023 the government ended wheat import subsidies, causing retail flour prices to jump from 2 890 to 4 600 escudos and leading to a drop in household consumption that pulled the market down to 16 248 t.

In 2024, authorities announced a plan to double national cereal storage capacity from 14 000 t to 32 000 t through a private partnership, aiming to improve supply security amid external price shocks such as the war in Ukraine.

Production wheat and meslin flour and cereals in Cabo Verde

In kind, 2017-2020, 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

Cabo Verde's production of wheat and meslin flour and cereals has increased for the second consecutive year. In 2020, the country produced 15 030 tonnes, marking a robust 16.4% increase compared to the previous year. Looking at the period from 2017 to 2020, production grew by 10%, which translates to an annualized growth rate of 3.2%. The lowest production volume was recorded in 2018 at 11 329 tonnes, which also saw the largest decline of 17.1%.

Annual dynamics of production in Cabo Verde in kind, 2017-2020, t

Exports wheat and meslin flour and cereals from Cabo Verde

Exports in kind, t

The data shows irregular changes, indicating a volatile market environment. Exports reached their lowest point in 2018 and peaked in 2019, with a 6.6-fold difference between these years. In 2020, Cabo Verde exported 84 tonnes of wheat and meslin flour and cereals, representing a 52.4% drop from the previous year. The highest export volume was recorded in 2019 at 176 tonnes, which also experienced the largest increase of 560.3%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Guinea-Bissau and the Netherlands together accounted for 77.9% of total exports in kind, making them the primary markets for Cabo Verde's wheat and meslin flour and cereals.

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

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

Exports in value, K $ US

Volatility characterized the market behavior during these years. Exports hit their lowest point in 2018 and peaked in 2019, with an 8.7-fold gap between these years. In 2020, Cabo Verde exported 30 thousand US dollars worth of wheat and meslin flour and cereals, down by 54.5% compared to 2019. The maximum value was recorded in 2019 at 65 thousand US dollars, which also saw the largest increase of 765.8%.

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

Throughout 2017 to 2020, Guinea-Bissau and the Netherlands formed the core group of markets for exports in value terms, jointly accounting for 74.3% of total flows.

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

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

Imports wheat and meslin flour and cereals to Cabo Verde

Imports in kind, t

In 2020, Cabo Verde imported 5 614 tonnes of wheat and meslin flour and cereals, showing a solid 19.1% increase compared to the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, imports grew by 18.5%, equating to an annualized rate of 5.8%. The minimum import volume was recorded in 2019 at 4 714 tonnes, while the maximum was in 2018 at 5 752 tonnes. The largest decline occurred in 2019 at 18.0%, and the largest increase was in 2018 at 21.4%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, the country structure of imports in kind was highly concentrated, with Portugal alone accounting for 94.1% of total flows.

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

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

Imports in value, K $ US

In 2020, Cabo Verde's imports of wheat and meslin flour and cereals were recorded at 2 178 thousand US dollars, representing a 20.1% increase compared to 2019. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, imports increased by 22.1%, with a compound annual growth rate of 6.9%. The maximum value was recorded in 2018 at 2 265 thousand US dollars. The largest decline was in 2019 at 19.9%, and the largest increase was in 2018 at 27.0%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, the country structure of imports in value terms was highly concentrated, with Portugal alone accounting for 92.0% of total flows.

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

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