Agriculture is the heart and soul of many African countries, providing jobs for a huge part of the population and fueling economic growth. As global demand for food and agricultural products rises, African countries have tapped into international markets, exporting products such as coffee, tea, cocoa, fruits, vegetables, and cotton.
The 2024 Africa Agriculture Trade Monitor (AATM), created by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) and AKADEMIYA2063, explores what is driving trade patterns including exports across the continent.
Despite global economic setbacks, Africa’s agricultural trade has shown significant growth. Between 2018 and 2022, Africa enjoyed the third fastest growth in agricultural exports, trailing only the Americas and Asia.
During the same period, the continent also recorded the second-fastest growth in agricultural imports, following Asia. On the export side, Africa plays a substantial role in global markets for key commodities like cotton, cocoa, coffee, tea, and tobacco. On the import side, essential goods like cereals, sugar, sugar confectionery, and fats and oils dominate the landscape.
Most of Africa’s agricultural exports are spread out among various countries, with no single country taking more than 25% of the total, except for China.
China stands out, accounting for 37% of Africa’s exports of oilseeds and oleaginous fruits. This shows that Africa’s agricultural exports are quite diversified. At least 11 and up to 21 countries outside Africa receive at least 1% of the continent’s exports in different product categories.
Below are the top global buyers of African agricultural products:
