Market research

Wheat and meslin market in Eastern Africa

Release date: Mar 28, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

Report language:

Report language:

Submission method: to your account

File format: docx, xlsx

Single Report

$500

Instant access to detailed data on one specific market
Ideal for one-off tasks: niche assessments, presentations, investment decisions
Available in Excel and Word in 15 minutes after purchase
Cheaper than subscription, but each market requires a separate purchase

Best if you know exactly what you need

Buy a single report

Platform Subscription

from$600

Complete and unlimited data access across products and regions
Includes continuous data updates during subscription period
Download reports instantly in Word, and Excel formats
More cost-effective for multiple markets or regular analysis

Ideal for regular data users

View pricing plans

"Eastern Africa" region includes following countries:

British Indian Ocean Territory

Burundi

Comoros

Mayotte

Ethiopia

Eritrea

French Southern Territories

Djibouti

Kenya

Madagascar

Malawi

Mauritius

Mozambique

Reunion

Rwanda

Seychelles

Somalia

Zimbabwe

South Sudan

Uganda

Tanzania

Zambia

Earlier Report Observations

The wheat and meslin market in Eastern Africa expanded steadily from 2018 to 2021, with total volume rising from 10 803 thousand tonnes to 13 959 thousand tonnes. This growth was interrupted in 2022 when the market contracted to 13 148 thousand tonnes.

The market recovered in 2023, reaching 13 571 thousand tonnes. This uptick coincided with the Tanzanian government's deployment of farm machinery and higher input use in wheat production, which boosted domestic output. Additionally, increased budget allocations for irrigation development and subsidies for seedlings and pesticides provided further support to production levels.

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 Eastern Africa
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in Eastern Africa 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 British Indian Ocean Territory in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to British Indian Ocean Territory 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 British Indian Ocean Territory in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to British Indian Ocean Territory 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 British Indian Ocean Territory, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to British Indian Ocean Territory 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 British Indian Ocean Territory in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to British Indian Ocean Territory 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 British Indian Ocean Territory in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to British Indian Ocean Territory 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 British Indian Ocean Territory, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to British Indian Ocean Territory 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 British Indian Ocean Territory in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from British Indian Ocean Territory 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 British Indian Ocean Territory in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from British Indian Ocean Territory 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 British Indian Ocean Territory, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from British Indian Ocean Territory 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 British Indian Ocean Territory in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from British Indian Ocean Territory 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 British Indian Ocean Territory in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from British Indian Ocean Territory 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 British Indian Ocean Territory, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from British Indian Ocean Territory 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 in Eastern Africa

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of wheat and meslin, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Eastern Africa's wheat and meslin production has grown for the third year in a row. In 2019, production stood at 6 781 thousand tonnes, and by 2020, it increased by 7.9% to reach this level. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, production rose by 25%, which translates to an average annual growth rate of 7.7%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	9.6%	5.7%	7.9%	7.7%

Source: SHEV.io

Exports wheat and meslin from Eastern Africa

Exports in kind, K t

The market showed significant volatility during these years. Exports peaked in 2017, then dropped to their lowest point in 2018, with an eightfold difference between these two years. In 2019, foreign wheat and meslin supplies from Eastern Africa totaled 16 thousand tonnes, and by 2020, this figure increased by 17.1% compared to the previous year. The minimum value was recorded in 2018 at 4 thousand tonnes. The largest decline occurred in 2018, with a drop of 87.5%, while the largest increase was in 2019, with a rise of 264.8%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(87.5%)	264.8%	17.1%	(19.0%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, the top destinations for wheat and meslin exports from Eastern Africa were Yemen, accounting for 6.5% of exports in kind, South Africa at 2.7%, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo at 1.0%. Together, these three countries made up 10.2% of total export flows.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, M $ US

The market displayed an unstable trend throughout this period. Exports reached their highest point in 2017, then fell to their lowest in 2018, showing a fluctuation of 3.8 times. In 2019, wheat and meslin exports from Eastern Africa amounted to 6 million US dollars, and by 2020, this value increased by 63.2% compared to the previous year. The minimum value was recorded in 2018 at 2 million US dollars. The largest decline occurred in 2018, with a decrease of 73.8%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(73.8%)	62.8%	63.2%	(11.4%)

Source: SHEV.io

During 2017–2020, the main markets for wheat and meslin exports from Eastern Africa in value terms were South Africa, representing 10.8% of exports, Yemen at 7.7%, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo at 1.8%. Collectively, these three destinations accounted for 20.2% of total export flows.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports wheat and meslin to Eastern Africa

Imports in kind, K t

Wheat and meslin imports into Eastern Africa have increased for the second consecutive year. In 2019, imports amounted to 5 873 thousand tonnes, and by 2020, they rose by 5.0% compared to the previous year. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, imports grew by 5.4%, equating to an average annual rate of 1.8%. The minimum value was recorded in 2018 at 4 860 thousand tonnes. The largest decline occurred in 2018, with a drop of 12.8%, while the largest increase was in 2019, with a rise of 15.1%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(12.8%)	15.1%	5.0%	1.8%

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, the principal suppliers of wheat and meslin to Eastern Africa in kind were Russia, accounting for 31.1% of imports, Argentina at 14.9%, and Ukraine at 11.7%. Together, these three countries made up 57.8% of total imports in kind.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, M $ US

Eastern Africa's wheat and meslin import volume has grown for the second year in a row. In 2019, imports came to 1 718 million US dollars, and by 2020, this amount increased by 8.8% compared to the previous year. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, imports rose by 22.1%, which translates to an average annual growth rate of 6.9%. The minimum value was recorded in 2018 at 1 369 million US dollars. The largest decline occurred in 2018, with a decrease of 2.7%, while the largest increase was in 2019, with a rise of 15.4%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(2.7%)	15.4%	8.8%	6.9%

Source: SHEV.io

In 2017–2020, the main suppliers of wheat and meslin to Eastern Africa in value terms were Russia, representing 28.4% of imports, Argentina at 12.9%, and Ukraine at 11.5%. Collectively, these three countries formed 52.8% of total imports in value terms.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io