Market research

Wheat and meslin flour and cereals market in ECOWAS

Release date: Mar 30, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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"ECOWAS" region includes following countries:

Benin

Burkina Faso

Gambia

Ghana

Guinea

Guinea-Bissau

Côte d'Ivoire

Cabo Verde

Liberia

Mali

Niger

Nigeria

Senegal

Sierra Leone

Togo

Earlier Report Observations

The market for wheat and meslin flour and cereals in ECOWAS exhibited notable volatility between 2018 and 2023. Volume started at 6.02 million tonnes in 2018, dipped to 5.77 million tonnes the following year, then rebounded sharply to a peak of 6.46 million tonnes in 2020.

After the 2020 high, the market entered a sustained contraction phase, declining to 6.24 million tonnes in 2021, 5.88 million tonnes in 2022, and 5.44 million tonnes in 2023. This downward trend was driven by a parallel decrease in domestic production, which fell from 5.95 million tonnes in 2020 to 5.08 million tonnes in 2023, alongside a significant reduction in import volumes over the same period.

Overall, the market contracted by approximately 9.6% from 2018 to 2023, with the most substantial declines occurring after the 2020 peak. External trade played a minor role, as export volumes remained low relative to imports throughout the observed years.

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. 4.2. Market Trends and Factors
5. Production
1. 5.1. Production in ECOWAS
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in ECOWAS 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, K t
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Benin in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Benin by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 6.1.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.1.3. Imports in value, M $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Benin in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Benin by countries, 2018-2024, M $ 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 Benin, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Benin 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, K t
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Benin in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Benin by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 6.2.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.2.3. Imports in value, M $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Benin in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Benin by countries, 2018-2024, M $ 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 Benin, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Benin 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, K t
    1. 7.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Benin in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Benin by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 7.1.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.1.3. Exports in value, M $ US
    1. 7.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Benin in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Benin by countries, 2018-2024, M $ 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 Benin, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Benin 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, K t
    1. 7.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Benin in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Benin by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 7.2.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.2.3. Exports in value, M $ US
    1. 7.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Benin in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Benin by countries, 2018-2024, M $ 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 Benin, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Benin by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
8. Trade balance
1. 8.1. Trade balance (Direct Data)
  1. 8.1.1. In kind, K t
  2. 8.1.2. In value, M $ US
2. 8.2. Trade balance (Mirror Data)
  1. 8.2.1. In kind, K t
  2. 8.2.2. In value, M $ 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 wheat and meslin flour and cereals in ECOWAS

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

In 2020, ECOWAS produced 5 948 K t of wheat and meslin flour and cereals, marking an 11.9% increase compared to the previous year. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, production grew by 12.4%, which translates to an average annual growth rate of 4.0%. The most significant drop occurred in 2019, with a decline of 1.3%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	1.7%	(1.3%)	11.9%	4.0%

Source: SHEV.io

Exports wheat and meslin flour and cereals from ECOWAS

Exports in kind, K t

The data shows irregular fluctuations, pointing to a volatile market environment. Exports varied significantly, with a 3.9-fold difference between the low in 2017 and the high in 2019. In 2020, ECOWAS exported 110.0 K t of wheat and meslin flour and cereals, representing a 4.5% decrease from 2019. The peak was reached in 2019 at 115.1 K t, which also saw the largest increase of 263.0%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	7.3%	263.0%	(4.5%)	54.9%

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, Morocco was the leading buyer of wheat and meslin flour and cereals from ECOWAS, consistently accounting for 1.5% of total exports in kind.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, M $ US

In 2020, wheat and meslin flour and cereals deliveries from ECOWAS amounted to 74.6 M $ US, showing a moderate 8.0% year-over-year increase. Between 2017 and 2020, exports rose by 30.5%, equivalent to an average annual growth rate of 9.3%. The largest decline was recorded in 2019 at 5.2%, while the most significant increase occurred in 2018 with a 27.5% rise.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	27.5%	(5.2%)	8.0%	9.3%

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports wheat and meslin flour and cereals to ECOWAS

Imports in kind, K t

In 2020, ECOWAS imported 621.1 K t of wheat and meslin flour and cereals, reflecting a modest 8.0% increase compared to 2019. Over the 2017–2020 period, imports grew by 12.8%, averaging 4.1% per year. The highest volume was in 2018 at 671.4 K t, while the largest decline of 14.4% was in 2019. The most substantial increase of 21.9% also took place in 2018.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	21.9%	(14.4%)	8.0%	4.1%

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, the import structure in kind was balanced rather than concentrated. Turkey accounted for 31.0% of imports in kind, the Netherlands for 7.0%, and Algeria for 6.4%, together making up 44.5% of total flows. Many other countries contributed the remaining 55.5%.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, M $ US

In 2020, ECOWAS's wheat and meslin flour and cereals import volume reached 271.8 M $ US, indicating a robust 19.6% increase compared to 2019. Between 2017 and 2020, imports grew by 27.1%, with an average annual rate of 8.3%. The largest decline was in 2019 at 12.6%, while the most significant increase of 21.6% occurred in 2018.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	21.6%	(12.6%)	19.6%	8.3%

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, the supplier portfolio for wheat and meslin flour and cereals to ECOWAS was broad. Turkey represented 28.7% of imports in value terms, France 6.9%, and Spain 6.8%, collectively contributing only 42.3% of total imports in value terms. Many other countries held smaller but notable shares.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io