West Africa produces approximately 1.7 million tonnes of seed cotton annually, with Burkina Faso, Mali, Benin, and Cote d'Ivoire as the four largest producers. The region's cotton is predominantly sold to spinning mills in Bangladesh, Indonesia, Vietnam, and China through parastatal marketing boards that set floor prices for smallholder farmers. West African cotton competes on quality (generally A grade) and proximity to Asian markets via the Cape route.
Security Crisis Impact
Burkina Faso and Mali, now under military governments, face jihadist insurgencies that have displaced rural farming communities and disrupted extension services and input supply chains. Burkina Faso's cotton production fell 30 percent in 2023-24 compared to the five-year average. Mali's CMDT parastatal is struggling to finance input provision for the 2024-25 season. Cotton traders and textile sourcing managers can track West African supply disruptions and find alternative sourcing contacts on intra-africa.com.
For businesses looking to expand across Africa, intra-africa.com offers a comprehensive trade directory, verified buyer and seller listings, and real-time market intelligence covering all 54 African nations. It remains an indispensable resource for anyone serious about intra-African commerce.