Asian countries have dominated natural rubber production, with 90% of global output since 1990
Côte d'Ivoire emerged as the world's fourth-largest producer of natural rubber in 2022. Cote d'Ivoire, Nigeria, and Liberia are the only African countries in the top ten between 1990 and 2022.
Nigeria was among the top ten until 2010, but as of 2022, Côte d'Ivoire was the only African country in the top ten producers.
Asian countries have historically led the world's natural rubber production, with the top seven countries — Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, India, Vietnam, China, and Philippines — producing 87% of the global output between 1990 and 2022.
Source:
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Africa’s total cashew nut (in shell) production increased from 172,050 tonnes in 1961 to over 2.25 million tonnes in 2023, a growth of approximately 1,209%.
Western Africa has been the primary driver of this growth since the 1990s and now produces the largest share of cashew nuts in Africa.
Western Africa accounted for 84% of Africa’s total cashew nut production by 2023.
Middle Africa has maintained a minimal but consistent level of production.
Eastern Africa led production from the 1960s through the 1980s before being overtaken by Western Africa.
The most significant growth in Africa’s cashew production began in the 1990s.
Despite overall growth, cashew production in Africa has experienced periodic fluctuations.
Mostly due to their climate conditions, Southern and Northern Africa regions are less favourable for cashew production than other African regions.
The former Sudan was the leading sesame seed oil producer in Africa for 48 years, from 1961 to 2011.
Nigeria topped Africa’s production rankings between 2012–2014 and 2016–2018.
The Central African Republic led sesame oil production in Africa for five years in a recent period.
East African countries, particularly Tanzania and Uganda, have seen significant growth in sesame oil production since the 1990s.
Six countries—Former Sudan, Somalia, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Mozambique, and the Central African Republic—have consistently played leading roles in Africa’s sesame seed oil production from 1961 to 1981 before the inclusion of some other African countries.
Following their separation, both Sudan and South Sudan have remained among the top sesame oil producers in Africa.
The top producers of sesame seed oil in Africa are mainly from Sub-Sahara African countries.
In SSA, sesame is often grown by small-scale farmers for export purposes.
