Togo’s agricultural exports reached 152.9 billion FCFA in 2023, a modest 2.5% increase compared to 2022, according to official data from the BCEAO. The year was marked by varying performance across different sectors.
Cocoa exports were a key driver of this growth, with revenue jumping 54.7% to 16.7 billion FCFA. This was due to a significant increase in export volumes (+55.5%), rising from 8,357 to nearly 13,000 tonnes, despite a slight decrease in the average transfer price (-0.5%).
In contrast, the cotton sector continued its decline, with foreign sales of fiber falling by 32.1% to 19.1 billion CFA francs. This decline is attributed to Togolese farmers shifting to more profitable crops like soybeans. The quantity of cotton exported fell by 27% to 16,511 tonnes.
Exports of plant-based food products, including oilseeds, cereals, flours, fruits, and vegetables, increased by 8.2% to 109.1 billion CFA francs. Oilseed exports were particularly strong (+9.6%), especially within ECOWAS. However, cereals and flours experienced a significant decline of 35.7%.
Exports of agricultural commodities like cotton seeds and timber fell by 26.2% to 2.9 billion CFA francs. India, Burkina Faso, and Mali remain Togo’s primary customers for these products.
Overall, Togo’s agricultural export performance shows a mixed picture, with varying results for cash crops and food crops. From 2019 to 2023, Togo’s agricultural exports increased from 110 billion CFA francs to nearly 153 billion, representing an average annual growth rate of approximately 8.41% over the period, despite fluctuations in certain years.
