Benin: Ban on export of food products until further notice
Benin, in a recent statement from the Beninese government, authorities have made the decision to cease exporting staple food products such as maize, rice, millet, cowpeas, tubers, and their derivatives (including cassava flour). These various products are formally prohibited from being exported until further notice.
This decision is made by the authorities to ensure comfortable supply for consumers at a reasonable cost in the domestic market. It comes in a context where the average price per kilogram of maize on the local market has risen by 57% since January to reach 365 CFA francs (0.59 USD) by mid-April, according to data from the National Institute of Statistics and Demography.
« Many producers and traders are inclined to meet demands for food products from foreign countries at the expense of the domestic market. While it is true that in a context of economic liberalism, market supply and demand determine prices, and the free movement of goods is accepted in our community space, the phenomenon is taking on such magnitude that the Beninese consumer is suffering the consequences », the government stated.
In a statement from last April, Gaston Dossouhoui, Minister of Agriculture, notably highlighted exports to Nigeria. « The significant agricultural production in Nigeria cannot do without Beninese maize. With all these pressures, there is a problem between supply and demand », the official declared. Apart from these factors, the minister also indicated that the government’s decision to ban imports of frozen poultry by the end of 2024 had also prompted breeders to build strategic reserves.
As a reminder, in Benin, maize production is expected to reach 2.5 million tons for the 2024/2025 campaign, which is 25% more than the harvest recorded the previous year.
