Cotton Processing in Africa Market Size & Share Analysis - Growth Trends & Forecasts (2025 - 2030)

The Report Covers Top 10 Cotton Producing Countries in Africa. It is Segmented by Geography (Benin, Mali, Burkina Faso, Côte D'Ivoire, Cameroon, Nigeria, and Tanzania). The Report Includes Production (Volume), Consumption (Volume and Value), Import (Volume and Value), Export (Volume and Value), and Price Trend Analysis. The Report Offers the Market Size and Forecasts in Terms of Volume (metric Tons) and Value (USD) for all the Above Segments.

Cotton Processing in Africa Market Size & Share Analysis - Growth Trends & Forecasts (2025 - 2030)

Africa Cotton Market Size

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Africa Cotton Market Summary
Study Period 2019 - 2030
Base Year For Estimation 2024
Forecast Data Period 2025 - 2030
Historical Data Period 2019 - 2023
Market Size (2025) USD 6.36 Billion
Market Size (2030) USD 8.08 Billion
CAGR (2025 - 2030) 4.91 %

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Africa Cotton Market Analysis

The Africa Cotton Market size is estimated at USD 6.36 billion in 2025, and is expected to reach USD 8.08 billion by 2030, at a CAGR of 4.91% during the forecast period (2025-2030).

  • Cotton grows well in a warm and moist climate where summer is long, and there is soil salinity, making Sub-Saharan Africa one of the largest cotton producers worldwide. Additionally, the crop has generally grown alternately and as in crop rotation with other crops, such as the basic food crops like maize, soy, or groundnuts, which reduces soil leaching and pests supporting its cultivation in the country. Beyond farming, the cotton industry supports textile manufacturing, spinning mills, and garment production, further contributing to economic development and driving the market's growth. Cottonseed is also used to extract edible oil, mainly in West Africa, for animal feed and products like margarine.
  • Cotton is almost entirely cultivated by smallholder farmers in Africa, with very few major plantations. The crop is frequently farmed as a supplemental commercial crop alongside staples grown for subsistence. However, only in a few places in Africa is the genetically modified cotton crop permitted to grow. Smallholder farmers exclusively plant genetically modified cotton in South Africa, Sudan, and Burkina Faso in Sub-Saharan Africa. African cotton farmed by smallholder farmers is primarily hand-picked, ensuring its high quality. Along with this, organizations like Fairtrade Africa work to ensure fair prices and labor standards for cotton farmers, promoting sustainable practices in cotton production.
  • Benin, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Côte d'Ivoire are the highest cotton-producing countries in Africa and account for about 50% of the region's produce. Cotton produced in Africa is majorly exported to Bangladesh, Vietnam, China, and Malaysia. Moreover, a new study produced by AKADEMIYA2063 and the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) in 2023 showed that Africa’s cotton value chains nonetheless hold significant potential to become Africa’s next major export commodity, delivering growth, improved livelihoods, and opportunities for the continent at large. Thus, the high potential of cotton in the African market, coupled with the significant exports and usage of sustainable farming practices, are driving the market's growth during the forecast period.

Africa Cotton Market News

  • February 2024: Cotton Made in Africa (CmiA) partnered with Avon, a subsidiary of Natura & Co, a prominent Brazilian cosmetics conglomerate. In line with Avon's robust sustainability goals, the collaboration emphasizes a shift towards renewable materials in its supply chain, aiming to enhance the eco-credentials of its products. This strategic alliance with CmiA signifies a pivotal move in Avon's journey toward cotton sustainability.
  • February 2024: The World Trade Organization (WTO) and football’s apex FIFA partnered and launched a new brand to strengthen the WTO-FIFA cotton partnership and support African countries’ participation in cotton trade value chains.
  • December 2023: CIRAD, the Center for International Cooperation in Agricultural Research for Development, initiated the AIRCoA project. This project focuses on three key scientific innovations for smallholder cotton farmers in Africa: developing climate-resilient cotton varieties, soil rejuvenation through carbon capture, and adopting botanical biopesticides.

Africa Cotton Market Report - Table of Contents

1. INTRODUCTION

  • 1.1 Study Assumptions and Market Definition
  • 1.2 Scope of the Study

2. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

3. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

4. MARKET DYNAMICS

  • 4.1 Market Overview
  • 4.2 Market Drivers
    • 4.2.1 Rising Area Under Cotton Production
    • 4.2.2 Increasing Export Value of African Cotton
    • 4.2.3 Increasing Supportive Intiatives
  • 4.3 Market Restraints
    • 4.3.1 High Prevalance of Pests and Diseases
    • 4.3.2 Limited Access to Credit for Farmers
  • 4.4 Value Chain Analysis

5. MARKET SEGMENTATION

  • 5.1 Geography (Production Analysis by Volume, Consumption Analysis by Volume and Value, Import Analysis by Value and Volume, Export Analysis by Value and Volume, and Price Trend Analysis)
    • 5.1.1 Benin
    • 5.1.2 Mali
    • 5.1.3 Burkina Faso
    • 5.1.4 Côte d'Ivoire
    • 5.1.5 Cameroon
    • 5.1.6 Nigeria
    • 5.1.7 Tanzania

6. MARKET OPPORTUNITIES AND FUTURE TRENDS

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Africa Cotton Industry Segmentation

Cotton, a staple in the African textile industry, belongs to the Mallow family. Its cream-colored fluffy fibers, enveloping tiny seeds known as bolls, are processed by separating the small, sticky seeds from the wool before spinning and weaving. The African cotton market is segmented by Geography (Benin, Mali, Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Cameroon, Nigeria, and Tanzania). The report includes production (volume), consumption (volume and value), import (volume and value), export (volume and value), and price trend analysis. The report offers the market size and forecasts in terms of volume (metric tons) and value (USD) for all the above segments.

Geography (Production Analysis by Volume, Consumption Analysis by Volume and Value, Import Analysis by Value and Volume, Export Analysis by Value and Volume, and Price Trend Analysis) Benin
Mali
Burkina Faso
Côte d'Ivoire
Cameroon
Nigeria
Tanzania
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Africa Cotton Market Research FAQs

How big is the Africa Cotton Market?

The Africa Cotton Market size is expected to reach USD 6.36 billion in 2025 and grow at a CAGR of 4.91% to reach USD 8.08 billion by 2030.

What is the current Africa Cotton Market size?

In 2025, the Africa Cotton Market size is expected to reach USD 6.36 billion.

What years does this Africa Cotton Market cover, and what was the market size in 2024?

In 2024, the Africa Cotton Market size was estimated at USD 6.05 billion. The report covers the Africa Cotton Market historical market size for years: 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024. The report also forecasts the Africa Cotton Market size for years: 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028, 2029 and 2030.

Cotton in Africa Industry Report

Statistics for the 2025 Africa Cotton market share, size and revenue growth rate, created by Mordor Intelligence™ Industry Reports. Africa Cotton analysis includes a market forecast outlook for 2025 to 2030 and historical overview. Get a sample of this industry analysis as a free report PDF download.

Cotton in Africa Market Report Snapshots