Browse Data and Analysis

The Caribbean Basin region continues to experience growth, driven primarily by the steady rise in tourism, which in turn impacts consumer demand.

In a budget bill passed on June 13, 2025, the semi-autonomous Zanzibar government raised the excise duty on imported frozen chicken from approximately USD $0.12 per kilogram to approximately USD $0.39 per kilogram, with a double aim to protect the domestic poultry industry and generate USD $2.75 million in revenue.

Zanzibar presents strong potential for U.S. food and beverage exports, driven by tourism, urbanization, and demand for quality products. With over 80 percent of food imported, key opportunities include beverages, wheat, poultry, oil, confectioneries, and rice.

Tanzania retail food industry is experiencing robust growth, driven by rapid urbanization, an expanding middle class (22 percent of households), rising disposable incomes, and a thriving tourism sector that welcomed 5 million visitors in 2024.

While Nigeria has a long history of subsistence-based milk production, urbanization is driving increased consumption of non-traditional dairy products.

In 2024, Nigeria created the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development to unlock potential in the country’s vast but underdeveloped livestock sector. The Ministry’s leadership has focused on increasing commercial productivity, which may lead to more interest in U.S. live animal, genetics, and animal feed product exports.

Despite market volatility, and unstable policies, the European Union remains the largest importer of Tanzanian green coffee beans, buying six times as many beans as the United States.

FAS-Lagos forecasts a 12 percent increase in raw sugar imports in marketing year (MY) 2025/26 compared to the prior year. This is due to increased foreign exchange availability, appreciation of the naira, and the projected increase in consumption.

FAS Dar es Salaam expects a ten percent decline in corn exports for marketing year (MY) 2025/26 as production decreases and strict export permit procedures continue to stymie shipments.

This report highlights the food processing industry, its drivers, key players, and market landscape in the Caribbean Basin. The region relies heavily on imports, and the United States is the largest supplier of food ingredients.

This report was revised to reflect all major export certificates and import permits that the government of Nigeria (GON) requires for exporting agricultural and related products from the United States to Nigeria.

Corn, wheat, rice, and sorghum consumption is expected to increase in marketing year (MY) 2025/26 due to the appreciation of the naira, slowing food price inflation, and macroeconomic stabilization.