Côte d’Ivoire to boost milled rice production to 1.6 MMT in 2025/26
Per capita rice consumption now stands at 84 kg, up from 58 kg two decades ago, driven by urbanization, dietary changes, and rising rural market connectivity.
CÔTE D’IVOIRE – Côte d’Ivoire’s domestic milled rice production for marketing year (MY) 2025/2026 is forecast to rise by 6.7% to 1.6 million metric tons (MMT), up from 1.5 MMT in MY 2024/2025, according to a recent report by FAS Abidjan, Accra.
The increase is driven by strategic government interventions under the Strategic National Rice Development Plan (SNDR 2024-2030), which also aims to reduce rice imports by 3% to 1.6 MMT and increase exports by 75% to 35,000 metric tons.
According to the report, the production growth reflects broader policy shifts intended to transform Côte d’Ivoire from a major rice importer into a self-sufficient producer and potential net exporter by 2030.
Key government support includes subsidized agricultural inputs (improved seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides), upgraded milling infrastructure, and initiatives to expand the harvested area to 810,000 hectares. Recent yield improvements, especially in irrigated and lowland plains, further underscore the sector’s growth potential.
The report highlights that rice consumption in the country is also on the rise, projected to reach 2.95 MMT in MY 2025/2026, an increase of 3% over the previous year.
Per capita rice consumption now stands at 84 kg, up from 58 kg two decades ago, driven by urbanization, dietary changes, and rising rural market connectivity.
Despite the uptick in domestic output, Côte d’Ivoire remains a key rice importer, although import patterns are shifting.
MY 2024/2025 saw a sharp rise in imports from India (+349%), Myanmar (+460%), and Pakistan (+296%), while shipments from Vietnam and China declined. Notably, imports of U.S.-origin rice surged to 10,312 MT in October-January 2024/2025, up from just 1 MT the year prior, indicating renewed interest in premium-quality American rice.
The government’s efforts to modernize the rice sector include replacing the National Office for the Development of Rice Farming (ONDR) with the newly formed Agency for the Development of the Rice Sector (ADERIZ) and merging the Ministry of Rice Promotion into the broader Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MINADER). These moves aim to streamline coordination and bolster efficiency.
Post-harvest, however, challenges remain. Currently, 70% of rice is processed in low-capacity, artisanal mills. Only 14 of 30 planned industrial mills are operational, and even those operate at low utilization rates.
Nonetheless, investment in medium-capacity mills (2 MT/hour), which now handle 43% of processing, suggests an ongoing transition toward more efficient milling systems.
The SNDR 2024-2030 prioritises mechanisation, targeting a jump from 5% to 30% coverage by 2025, and standardising rice varieties via national and international research bodies such as CNRA and AfricaRice. Seven certified seed centers with a combined capacity of 26,000 MT have been established to support this.
On the trade front, Côte d’Ivoire’s rice exports are seeing a resurgence. MY 2025/2026 exports are forecast at 35,000 MT, up from 20,000 MT, supported by surplus domestic supply and growing demand in neighboring countries.
Notable regional trends include a dramatic 3,000% surge in exports to Burkina Faso, although exports to markets like Mali and Liberia dropped to zero due to shifting trade dynamics and regional policy changes.
MY 2025/2026 ending stocks are projected to rise 34% to 849,000 MT.
Sign up to HERE receive our email newsletters with the latest news and insights from Africa and around the world, and follow us on our WhatsApp channel for updates.
