Browse Data and Analysis

Recent available data indicates that Saudi Arabia imported approximately 2.7 million metric tons (MMT) of barley in the first six months of MY 2022/23 (July – December 2022), an increase of approximately 11% compared to the same period last year (2.46 MMT).

This report provides some useful information for U.S. companies interested in exporting food and agricultural products to Senegal. The report includes an overview of Senegal economic outlook, market structure and trends, import requirements, and top prospects of consumer-oriented products to explore for export opportunities.

Marketing Year (MY) 2022/23 (August to July) is characterized by high pest infestation of cotton leafhoppers, known commonly as jassids, in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Senegal. Post forecasts the harvested area in all three countries to fall back to the previous year level, 1.33 million hectares (MHA) due to abandoned area caused by this infestation and excess rainfall.

The fisheries sector contributes to 3.2 percent to Senegal’s gross domestic product (GDP), accounts for 10.2 percent of Senegal exports, and generated $400 million in value in 2021. There is a growing demand for high quality fish and seafood products because overfishing and illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing have led to depleted fish stocks, creating market access opportunities for U.S. seafood exporters.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s (KSA) regulations allow the importation of biotech plant products, but they are required to be labeled if they contain more than one percent genetically engineered (GE) plant ingredients. As a result, many retail packed food importers do not import biotech foods due to concerns that biotech labeling could jeopardize their product image. However, Saudi Arabia imports large quantities of biotech U.S. corn, soybeans, and their products.

This is a regional report on West Africa that primarily covers Senegal, Burkina Faso, and Mali, but also provides brief overviews in certain sections for Niger, The Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, and Mauritania. Senegal and Mauritania passed new biosafety laws on June 14, 2022, and August 4, 2022, respectively.

Saudi Arabia’s barley imports for the first six months of MY 2022/23 (July – Dec. 2022) are estimated at 2.6 million metric tons (MMT), an increase of six percent compared to the same period last year. Post’s current projection for total barley imports for MY 2022/23 is 4.5 MMT, which is a decrease of four percent compared to the USDA official estimate of 4.7 MMT. Unless the price of barley drastically decreases, Post anticipates demand will remain low throughout MY 2022/23.

Saudi Arabia was a 24th largest market ($1.34 million) for U.S. food and agricultural products last year. A return to pre-Covid living and working conditions are invigorating U.S. agricultural exports to the Kingdom in 2022. U.S. Customs data for January – August 2022 shows an 11 percent increase in U.S. agricultural exports to Saudi Arabia compared to the same period in 2021.

Senegal Marketing Year (MY) 2022/23 area and production levels are forecast to increase 1.6 percent and 7 percent at 1.23 million hectares (Mha) and 1.8 million tons (Mt), respectively, on expectations of a good farm gate price, typical weather conditions, and appropriate use of fertilizer. Post forecasts MY 2022/23 exports at 460,000 tons, increasing 15 percent compared to the previous year based on available supply and higher demand.

U.S. exports of consumer-oriented food products to Saudi Arabia decreased four percent in 2021, compared to 2020, to approximately $535 million mainly due to shipping issues (e.g., fewer cargo ships, higher costs, etc.) throughout the year. In June 2022, the Saudi government lifted all COVID-19 restrictions allowing the food service sector to return to pre-pandemic operations while also fully reopening the country to foreign visitors.

For Marketing Year (MY) 2022/23 (August to July) harvested area for Mali, Burkina Faso, and Senegal is forecast to increase eight percent to 1.44 million hectares (MHA) compared to the previous year. This increase is largely due to significant...

High cost and freight (CFR) world barley prices have drastically reduced the demand for barley in Saudi Arabia, and contributed to the increased demand for domestically processed animal feed. For MY2021/22, Post projects total Saudi barley imports at...