Wheat and meslin flour and cereals market in Senegal

Earlier Report Observations

The Senegalese wheat and meslin flour market expanded from 503.5 thousand tons in 2018 to 538.6 thousand tons in 2020. Growth in 2019 was supported by a regulatory framework established through a decree that set production and safety standards for modern bakeries, along with a protocol between the Association of Industrial Millers of Senegal and the Ministry of Trade that revised flour prices and imposed monthly production quotas to stabilize the sector. In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic caused global wheat prices to rise, but the government suspended customs duties and VAT on wheat and flour to maintain the official bag price at 16,600 FCFA, preventing a decline in market volume.

Market volume contracted to 491.6 thousand tons in 2021 as a sharp 42% increase in wheat prices forced the state to temporarily suspend duties and VAT, later raising the flour bag price to 19,200 FCFA in December. Millers protested the new pricing and threatened to halt bread flour production, contributing to the drop. However, in 2022, volume rebounded strongly to 579.6 thousand tons, driven by the government's national wheat production program aimed at food sovereignty and the promotion of local cereal incorporation, despite soaring international wheat prices following the Russia-Ukraine war. State subsidies and price controls helped absorb cost pressures and sustain consumption.

The market continued to grow, reaching 630.0 thousand tons in 2023. Authorities implemented a price cap for wheat flour in the Dakar region based on international cost movements and maintained support measures such as subsidies and margin controls to shield households from volatility. Ongoing regulatory strengthening, including import controls and production quota monitoring, alongside the National Food Sovereignty Strategy 2024-2028, provided a stable framework for market expansion.

Production wheat and meslin flour and cereals in Senegal

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

Senegal's production of wheat and meslin flour and cereals has grown for the third year in a row. In 2020, the country produced 526.3 thousand tons, showing only a slight change from 2019. Looking at the period from 2017 to 2020, production rose by 8%, which translates to an average annual growth rate of 2.6%.

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

In value, 2017-2020, M $ US

The value of wheat and meslin flour and cereals production in Senegal has also increased for three consecutive years. In 2020, output was valued at 227.4 million US dollars, up 2.7% compared to the previous year. From 2017 to 2020, production value grew by 13.9%, with an average annual rate of 4.4%.

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

Exports wheat and meslin flour and cereals from Senegal

Exports in kind, t

In 2020, Senegal exported 11 912 tons of wheat and meslin flour and cereals, a strong increase of 12.3% from 2019. The lowest volume was recorded in 2019 at 10 609 tons, while the peak was in 2018 with 15 163 tons. The largest decline occurred in 2019, dropping by 30.0%, and the biggest rise was in 2018, up 27.8%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Mali remained the primary destination for Senegal's wheat and meslin flour and cereals exports, accounting for 82.7% of total export volumes. Other markets played a much smaller role during this period.

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

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

Exports in value, K $ US

Senegal's exports of wheat and meslin flour and cereals reached 5 147 thousand US dollars in 2020, a solid increase of 14.9% over 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, exports grew by 5.9%, with an average annual growth rate of 1.9%. The lowest value was in 2019 at 4 479 thousand US dollars, and the highest was in 2018 at 6 368 thousand US dollars. The largest decline was in 2019, down 29.7%, while the biggest increase was in 2018, up 31.0%.

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

During 2017-2020, Mali continued to be the main market for Senegal's exports in value terms, holding an 82.2% share of total flows. The remaining exports were spread across various other destinations.

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

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

Imports wheat and meslin flour and cereals to Senegal

Imports in kind, t

Import volumes showed noticeable fluctuations over the period. The lowest point was in 2017, and the highest was in 2018, with a 2.1-fold difference between them. In 2020, Senegal imported 24 237 tons of wheat and meslin flour and cereals, a gradual gain of 3.1% from 2019. The peak volume was in 2018 at 26 608 tons. The largest decline occurred in 2019, down 11.7%, and the biggest increase was in 2018, up 107.6%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Spain, Turkey, and Italy were the key partners for Senegal's imports of wheat and meslin flour and cereals in volume terms. Spain accounted for 37.2%, Turkey for 27.0%, and Italy for 21.4%, together making up 85.6% of total import flows.

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

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

Imports in value, K $ US

The import market displayed volatility during the observed years. The lowest value was in 2017, and the highest in 2020, with a 2.2-fold difference. In 2020, Senegal's imports of wheat and meslin flour and cereals amounted to 11 757 thousand US dollars, a steep gain of 41.7% year-over-year. The largest decline was in 2019, down 24.8%, and the biggest increase was in 2018, up 103.8%.

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

Throughout 2017-2020, Spain, Turkey, and Italy remained the top three markets for Senegal's imports in value terms, collectively accounting for 83.7% of total flows.

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

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