This OECD/Sahel and West Africa Club (SWAC) Maps & Facts brief reveals that intra-regional food trade in West Africa is far larger than commonly assumed. Using improved estimation methods for the period 2014–2022, the analysis shows that intra-regional food trade is worth approximately USD 10 billion per year—around six times higher than what official statistics report. About 85% of this trade remains unrecorded, particularly for staple foods and high-value products such as cereals, roots, fruits, and vegetables. Contrary to the perception that this trade is purely informal and short-distance, the findings highlight the presence of large formal and informal operators managing long-distance trade networks across the region. Intra-regional trade plays a critical role in food and nutrition security by improving year-round availability, smoothing seasonal shortages and shocks, and linking rural production areas to expanding urban markets. The report stresses that underestimating this trade distorts food security assessments and agricultural policy decisions, and calls for stronger data systems to better inform regional trade, food security, and development strategies.
Resource type:
Peer review