Key Export Crops & Producer Statistics in Africa

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Agriculture has always been the heart of Africa’s economy, and the continent’s export crops play a part in global trade. As much as these crops have been vital to local economies, they have been the backbone of entire industries worldwide. 

As Africa transitions into a more modern, tech-savvy agricultural landscape, these same crops benefit from new technologies that reshape how they’re produced, traded, and valued globally. In this article, we’ll delve into some of Africa’s export crops, their producer statistics, and how tech is shaping their future.

Africa’s Major Export Crops

When we think of Africa’s agricultural exports, certain crops immediately come to mind: cocoa, coffee, tea, cashew nuts, and cotton. These products are key players in global supply chains, and Africa is the dominant producer of a few of them. 

Take cocoa, for example. West Africa, particularly Ghana (653,700 tons) and Côte d’Ivoire (2,377,442), produces  60.62% of the world’s cocoa production (5 million tonnes) in 2023, according to a WorldAtlas report. 

Similarly, Ethiopia’s coffee is one of the most sought-after varieties globally, while Kenya’s tea is recognised for its distinctive quality and flavour, commanding top prices in markets like Europe and the Middle East. Here are Africa’s top export crops and their producers:

• Cocoa: Côte d’Ivoire (world’s largest, over half of Africa’s exports) and Ghana (significant global share).
  
• Coffee: Ethiopia leads the chart with 559,400 tonnes in 2023, according to reports.
  
• Tea: Reports suggest that Kenya leads tea production with 570,000 tonnes.
  
• Cotton: Benin is a major exporter.
  
• Tobacco: Zimbabwe dominates, with over 250 million kilograms in 2023, according to reports.
  
• Oilseeds: Sudan dominates in sesame and sunflower oil.
  
• Fruits and Nuts, Vegetables: South Africa and Morocco lead, respectively, with strong European demand.

Source: Pexels

Detailed Export Crops and Producer Statistics

Based on 2025 projections and recent data, the following table summarises key export crops and their leading producers, with statistics reflecting production volumes and export values:

Technology in African Export Crop Production

Technology is a game-changer, with Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) tools enhancing productivity and export potential. Here are some key technologies in play in African export crop production:

• Digital Payments and Supply Chain Management

In Côte d’Ivoire, the digitisation of cocoa farmer payments, launched in June 2023, involves mobile money wallets and digital platforms, reducing theft risks and improving access to funds. According to reports, this initiative, supported by MTN Cote d’Ivoire, Wave, InTouch, Cargill, and IFC, has enrolled close to 30,000 farmers and over 110 cooperatives. 

• Climate-Smart Agriculture

Kenya’s coffee sector is leveraging biotechnology for drought-resistant varieties, potentially increasing yields by up to 15%. Satellite imagery with machine learning for early warning and pest monitoring is also reducing losses by up to 10%, according to a CMS publication. These technologies are crucial for adapting to climate change, a significant challenge for African agriculture.

• Mobile-Based Market Information Systems

Apps like M-Farm in Kenya provide real-time data on coffee prices and demand, helping farmers increase earnings by up to 25%. This enhances market access and competitiveness in global trade.

• Digital Financial Services

Fintech partnerships are improving access to credit and insurance. In Rwanda, the Smart Nkunganire System has enabled over 1.4 million farmers to access digital financial services, a model with the potential for scaling in Africa.

• E-Extension Services and Digital Learning Platforms

These platforms are addressing the aging farmer population and youth disengagement. In Uganda, digital extension services led to an increase in agricultural competencies, fostering innovation in farming practices.

In some other cases, Botswana’s partnership with E-Space Africa for low Earth orbit and Smart-IoT applications is enhancing real-time crop management, with plans for a satellite launch in 2025 to provide soil data for agriculture, according to a Brookings’ article.

Source: Pexels

The Economic Implication

The economic implication of tech-aided export crop production will be profound. It will create jobs, increase GDP, and generate foreign exchange. Cocoa digitisation in Côte d’Ivoire is a typical example, as it has improved farmer livelihoods by enabling access to savings and loans, reducing dependency on cash, and enhancing financial inclusion. 

This shift also enables Africa to move from raw commodity exports to value-added products, capturing more value in the supply chain. Initiatives like the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) enhance intra-African trade, positioning Africa as a competitive player in global markets.

Although many technologies are being used in the production of Africa’s export crops, there are opportunities for further enhancement, including:

• CRISPR Gene-Editing: High-productivity, disease-resistant seed varieties could reduce risk to farmers while increasing yields, particularly for crops like maize and cassava, which are part of export portfolios.
  
• IoT: Internet-connected sensors could monitor post-harvest storage conditions to prevent spoilage, ensuring export-quality produce.
  
• Satellite Imagery: Expanding satellite-based climate data could help farmers in remote areas adapt to weather changes, boosting export crop production.

These potential interventions could address current challenges like climate variability and infrastructure deficits, further amplifying export potential.

SourceL Pexels

Challenges

While much of the conversation around agricultural technology in Africa focuses on progress and potential, illegal and informal export activities continue to threaten it. Smuggling and under-declared exports are subtly disrupting the very systems that technology is meant to improve.

Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire have long battled cross-border smuggling. Farmers, chasing slightly better prices or quicker payouts, often sell their harvest to buyers across borders, bypassing official cooperatives and regulated supply chains. Reuters reported that in 2023, Ghana suffered losses from cocoa being smuggled into Côte d’Ivoire and Togo, where different pricing structures create lucrative loopholes. 

But why does this matter for technology?

Because many of the digital tools transforming African agriculture (like blockchain for traceability, mobile-based trading platforms, or smart pricing systems) rely on transparency and participation in formal markets. When a significant portion of export crops slips through informal routes, the data becomes patchy, trust in the system erodes, and legal farmers lose their competitive edge. 

In Kenya’s tea and coffee sectors, for example, digital platforms have emerged to standardise pricing, track volumes, and ensure fairer revenue distribution. However, if informal exports undercut prices or flood markets with untraceable produce, farmers who’ve invested in tech-driven practices see fewer rewards. The logic is simple: Why spend money on precision tools or quality certification if the market is distorted by actors who don’t play by the rules?

Of course, quantifying the exact impact of these illegal flows on tech adoption is difficult because they often go unrecorded by design. But the logic remains strong: when illicit trade is rewarded more than formal participation, farmers may find it safer, faster, or more profitable to opt out of digital systems altogether. 

It’s safe to say that illegal export practices don’t just hurt government revenues; they stifle innovation. They make it harder to enforce sustainability protocols, track environmental impacts, or ensure equitable payments. Until these structural leakages are addressed, the promise of technology in export crop production may remain unfulfilled for many smallholder farmers.