Browse Data and Analysis

With a gross domestic product of $548.6 billion and projected growth of 3.7 percent in 2025, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) ranks as the second-largest economy in the Arab world, with substantial consumer spending driven by high per capita income.

In 2024, Côte d’Ivoire’s imports of U.S.-origin food and agricultural products grew to $42 million, up 121 percent compared to $19 million registered in 2023.

The UAE's food processing sector is thriving, driven by robust economic growth and domestic consumption. The more than 570 predominantly small and medium-sized food and beverage processors cater primarily to local demand, while also aiming to meet regional and global needs.

The FAS Accra, Abidjan (Post) Gulfood Dubai-2025 buyers delegation is generating some $16 million in potential new sales for the Coastal West Africa Region. Post led its largest buyers delegation to date from the Coastal West Africa region – 12 from Ghana, 10 from Côte d’Ivoire, and two from Togo.

Continuing economic growth; increasing tourism; a healthy hotel, restaurant, and institutional sector; and a growing population will lead the UAE’s wheat and rice consumption to grow in the 2025-2026 marketing year (MY).

Serbia’s overall grain production in MY 2024/25 had mixed results as its winter crops (wheat and barley) experienced bumper crops while corn, soybean and sunflower declined for the third year in a row.

FAS Abidjan, Accra (Post) sees the Côte d'Ivoire government's supports, improved inputs, and irrigation investments helping to boost rice production yields.

Effective January 21, 2025, Serbia temporarily prohibits the import and transit of certain animal products originating from countries with confirmed foot-and-mouth disease outbreaks.

Côte d'Ivoire is the gateway to the francophone West African market. Its food processing sector is dynamic and growing, offering new opportunities for U.S.-origin food ingredient exporters bold enough to pioneer this market.

FAS Abidjan, Accra (Post) forecasts Côte d’Ivoire’s market year (MY) 2025/2026 (August-July) cotton fiber production at 745,000 bales (480 pounds - lb.), up two percent from the MY 2024/2025 estimate of 730,000 bales.

FAS Abidjan, Accra (Post) foresees Ivorian cocoa bean production in market year (MY) 2024/2025 (October-September) climbing upwards towards 1.8 million metric tons (MMT, improving by over 2 percent from the MY 2023/2024 season’s 1.76 MMT production figure.

The African halal market is estimated at over $150 billion. In the Coastal West Africa Region, Côte d'Ivoire's halal food and agricultural products market is similarly growing.