US focuses on wheat quality as it seeks a bigger share of sub-Saharan Africa
The United States is expanding efforts to boost wheat exports to sub-Saharan Africa by emphasizing the quality and performance of American wheat amid strong competition from lower-priced suppliers. U.S. wheat exports to the region rose 138% in 2025–26, while Africa’s wheat imports are forecast to reach 32.7 million tonnes in 2026–27.
AFRICA – The United States is stepping up efforts to increase wheat exports to sub-Saharan Africa by focusing on quality as competition from lower priced suppliers continues to grow across the region.
According to a statement released by U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) on July 22, the organization is working with millers, bakers and food manufacturers to show how different American wheat classes can improve flour performance and finished products. The approach comes as African wheat demand continues to rise and major exporters compete for a larger share of the market.
“We’re trying to demonstrate the value of American wheat. When it is not the cheapest on the market, we show buyers what they get in exchange for this investment,” said Chad Weigand, USW’s Regional Director for Sub-Saharan Africa.
Weigand noted that buyers across Africa often receive lower priced offers from Russia, Ukraine, Canada, the European Union and the Baltic countries. USW believes that helping processors understand the characteristics of different wheat classes can support better production decisions and increase confidence in American wheat.
To support this effort, USW held training sessions for millers and bakers in Senegal and Côte d’Ivoire toward the end of 2024. The sessions focused on the use of Hard Red Spring and Hard Red Winter wheat in bread flour blends.
According to Weigand, the training helped increase buyer confidence and supported higher purchases during the 2025 to 2026 marketing season.
“The 2025-2026 marketing year saw a 138% increase in U.S. wheat exports to sub-Saharan Africa, one of the strongest annual increases among the regions monitored by the USW internationally,” the organization said.
USW also plans to promote American wheat for pasta and pastry production by showing processors the benefits of other wheat varieties for these products.
Demand for imported wheat across sub-Saharan Africa continues to grow. The U.S. Department of Agriculture projects wheat imports will reach 32.7 million metric tons in the 2026 to 2027 season, a 2% increase from the previous year. If achieved, this would mark the fifth straight annual increase in imports since the 2022 to 2023 season, when the region imported 24.6 million metric tons.
The growing market has also attracted other major exporters. Cereals Canada announced in May that Africa will become a key market for its wheat exports, with Kenya, Cameroon and Mozambique identified as countries with strong growth potential.
Russia and Ukraine are also increasing their presence. Russia continues to strengthen trade channels through logistics initiatives announced in Egypt in May, while Ukraine opened an agricultural hub in Ghana in April 2026 to expand wheat exports across West Africa.
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Source : Milling Middle East & Africa
