Wheat and meslin flour and cereals market in Namibia

Earlier Report Observations

From 2018 to 2021, production of wheat and meslin flour and cereals in Namibia increased steadily from 88.8 thousand tons to 111.3 thousand tons. This growth was primarily driven by the Sikondo Green Scheme irrigation project, which supplied around 1 500 to 2 000 tons of produce to the state-owned Agromarketing Trade Agency (AMTA), enabling expanded cultivation of wheat on irrigated land. Simultaneously, the long-standing market share promotion program, requiring importers to source at least 47% of their needs locally, created a guaranteed demand for domestic production.

After a temporary decline to 96.2 thousand tons in 2022, production rebounded strongly to 120.2 thousand tons in 2023. The recovery was supported by the continued operation of the Green Scheme irrigation initiatives and the enforcement of protective market measures that mandated retailers to prioritize local sourcing before importing. These policies helped the market regain its upward trajectory, with overall market volume reaching 120.5 thousand tons in 2023.

Production wheat and meslin flour and cereals in Namibia

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

Namibia's production of wheat and meslin flour and cereals has increased for the third consecutive year. In 2020, the country produced 101.8 K t, showing a modest 3.7% rise from 2019. Between 2017 and 2020, production grew by 25.1%, which translates to an annualized rate of 7.7%.

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

Exports wheat and meslin flour and cereals from Namibia

Exports in kind, t

The market showed an unstable trend over the period. Exports reached their lowest point in 2018 at 1 t, with the largest decline of 93.6% recorded that year. In 2019, exports surged by 784.8%, and in 2020, they peaked at 47 t, marking a sharp increase of 727.7% from 2019. The gap between the peak in 2020 and the trough in 2018 was 73-fold.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Namibia's exports of wheat and meslin flour and cereals in kind were primarily directed towards Australia and Angola, which together accounted for 83.5% of total flows, with other destinations playing a secondary role.

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

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

Exports in value, K $ US

Market performance exhibited noticeable fluctuations during this timeframe. Exports hit their lowest point in 2019 at 4 K $ US, with the largest decline of 46.0% occurring in 2018. In 2020, exports peaked at 45 K $ US, up by 1 118.2% year-over-year. The change from the trough in 2019 to the peak in 2020 was 12.2 times.

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

Throughout 2017–2020, the country structure of exports in value terms was dominated by Australia and Angola, which together made up 90.1% of total flows, while other markets formed a long tail.

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

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

Imports wheat and meslin flour and cereals to Namibia

Imports in kind, t

Namibia imported 825 t of wheat and meslin flour and cereals in 2020, a slight increase of 0.6% from the previous year. Imports peaked in 2018 at 1 657 t, with the largest increase of 3.0% recorded that year. In 2019, imports fell to 821 t, the lowest point, with the largest decline of 50.5%. Between 2017 and 2020, imports decreased by 48.7%, equating to an annualized rate of 19.9%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Namibia's imports in kind were heavily concentrated on South Africa, which accounted for 86.3% of total flows, while other markets formed a less significant perimeter.

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

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

Imports in value, K $ US

Namibia's imports of wheat and meslin flour and cereals in value terms declined for the third consecutive year. In 2020, the country imported 420 K $ US, down by 3.0% from the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, imports decreased by 72.7%, which corresponds to an annualized rate of 35.2%.

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

Throughout 2017–2020, South Africa accounted for 86.4% of total imports in value terms, with the remaining volume distributed among many countries, each with smaller individual shares.

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

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