Sub-Saharan Africa imports approximately 20 million tonnes of wheat annually, spending over $8 billion in foreign exchange on a grain that could be grown domestically in Ethiopia's highlands, South Africa's Western Cape, Kenya's Uasin Gishu plateau, and the Nile Valley. The Russia-Ukraine war disrupted global wheat supply in 2022, exposing Africa's vulnerability: several African nations source over 50 percent of their wheat from Ukraine and Russia, and the supply disruption caused flour price increases of 40 to 80 percent across the continent. Egypt, Africa's largest wheat importer at 12 million tonnes annually, was particularly exposed.
Domestic Production Response
Ethiopia has emerged as sub-Saharan Africa's most successful wheat expansion story: production grew from 3 million tonnes in 2018 to over 10 million tonnes in 2023 through a government-supported irrigation expansion programme in Afar and Oromia regions. Ethiopia ended wheat imports in 2023, a remarkable achievement for a country that was importing over 2 million tonnes annually just five years earlier. Grain traders, flour millers, and agricultural investors can access African grain market data 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.