• The government plans to add 500,000 hectares of rubber plantations over 10 years

• Natural rubber exports exceeded 1.87 million tons and CFA1,244 billion in 2023

• Global demand is rising, supported by autos, infrastructure, and healthcare

The Ivorian government plans to develop an additional 500,000 hectares of rubber tree plantations over a 10-year period. The plan was disclosed during the general assembly of the Association of Producers for the Revitalization of Rubber Farming in Côte d’Ivoire (APRHE-CI), held on December 20, 2025, according to information reported by the Ivorian Press Agency.

According to Dagniny Doukouré, chairman of APRHE’s board, the project reflects the government’s intention to respond to growing global demand for natural rubber, the main product derived from rubber tree cultivation.

The announcement comes as APRHE, which represents more than 12,000 producers, seeks to remobilize its members through technical training programs covering tapping, grafting, staking, and optimized planting. The association has also created a new cooperative, COOP-AWALEY, aimed at pooling production and strengthening producers’ market position.

Rubber-growing areas in Côte d’Ivoire increased by 3%, from 701,481 hectares in 2019 to 722,502 hectares in 2023, according to data from the Rubber and Oil Palm Council. Over the same period, the sector recorded strong growth in export performance.

Foreign trade statistics compiled by the Directorate General of Customs show that Ivorian natural rubber exports more than doubled, rising from 876,200 tons in 2019 to 1.87 million tons in 2023. Export revenues also more than doubled, reaching CFA1,244 billion ($2.23 billion) in 2023, up from CFA531 billion in 2019.

More broadly, this strong performance has helped consolidate natural rubber’s position as Côte d’Ivoire’s second-largest source of agricultural export revenue after cocoa.

Promising prospects on the international market

For Abidjan, accelerating natural rubber production is key to capitalizing on rising international demand, which is expected to remain strong in the coming years. In its latest Commodities Markets Outlook report published in October, the World Bank estimates that global demand for natural rubber increased by 2% over the 12 months through September 2025.

According to India-based consulting and market research firm Mordor Intelligence, the global natural rubber market is valued at $48.5 billion in 2025 and is expected to grow at an average annual rate of 4.58% to reach $60.7 billion by 2030. Demand is being driven by the expansion of electric vehicles, particularly for tire manufacturing, the growth of infrastructure projects in Asia and Africa, and the increasing use of high-purity latex in the healthcare sector.

Beyond export opportunities, expanding rubber cultivation in Côte d’Ivoire could also support the development of related industries such as bioenergy, which makes use of agricultural byproducts.

In Divo, Société des Énergies Nouvelles announced on June 3, 2025, plans to develop a 76 MW power plant fueled by agricultural waste, including end-of-life rubber trees. At the same time, Eni is processing rubber seeds into vegetable oil for its biorefineries. Following a successful pilot phase, the company signed an agreement with the government on May 28 to structure a national biofuels value chain. These projects are expected to open new energy outlets while generating additional income for small producers.

Stéphanas Assocle