Foreign rice fills the gap as local harvest falls by 10.7%, says the national statistics agency.

Highlights

● Senegal imported 1.38 million tonnes of rice in 2024, up 6.5% from 2023

● Import bill rose to 315 billion FCFA ($564.7 million), a 4.3% increase

● Thailand, India, and Pakistan were top suppliers; U.S. rice imports surged 76%

In 2024, Senegal spent 315 billion CFA francs ($564.7 million) on rice imports, making it the country’s leading food import item, according to the Agence nationale de la statistique et de la démographie (ANSD)(ed. Note: National Statistics Agency). This marks a 4.3% increase from the 302 billion CFA francs ($541.2 million) spent the previous year.

The growth is largely attributed to higher volumes, with Senegal purchasing 1.38 million tonnes of rice—an increase of 85,000 tonnes or 6.5% compared to 2023.

This reliance on international markets comes at a time when domestic rice output is shrinking. The paddy harvest fell by 10.7% at the end of the 2023/2024 crop year, to 946,209 tonnes, ANSD noted in its Bulletin mensuel des statistiques économiques et financières published July 9, 2025. This shortfall in local supply has limited the industry's ability to meet domestic demand.

Thailand retained its position as Senegal’s top rice supplier, accounting for 31% of total imports by value—around 96.3 billion CFA francs ($172.6 million). It was followed by India (28%) and Pakistan (17.6%).

In a notable shift, imports from the American continent surged by 76% year-on-year, reaching 64.5 billion CFA francs ($115.6 million), according to ANSD’s external trade analysis released July 22.

This article was originally reported in French by Stéphanas Assocle

Adapted into English by Ola Schad Akinocho.