• Senegal to cap imported rice price at 300 CFA/kg from 2026
• Government aims to ease living costs amid rising global rice prices
• 80% of Senegal’s rice imports come from Asia, mainly Thailand, India, Pakistan

The retail price of a kilogram of imported broken rice in Senegal will be capped at 300 CFA francs from 2026, a 14% drop from the current domestic market price of 350 CFA francs.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade announced the decision on Dec. 18, saying it would be officially unveiled by President Bassirou Diomaye Faye at the end of 2025.

In a statement, the ministry said the decision followed consultations with industry stakeholders, including importers, traders, retailers and consumer associations. Authorities said the measure aims to boost household purchasing power and curb the high cost of living, as rice remains one of the country’s most widely consumed staples.

The move comes as rice export prices in Asia have risen since November 2025, according to data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Vietnamese quotes increased by $7 to $362 per tonne, while Thai prices jumped by $38 to $381 per tonne. Pakistani prices rose by $13 to $349 per tonne, driven by strong demand from key markets. The USDA cited firm demand and tight stocks in its latest global grain market report published on Dec. 2.

Senegal imports most of its broken rice from Asia. Trademap data show the country imported 1.34 million tonnes of rice in 2024, nearly 80% of which came from Asian suppliers, mainly Thailand, India and Pakistan.

Stéphanas Assocle