Africa Posts First Agri-Food Trade Surplus in Five Years
Last update: April 14, 2026
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Strong export growth across key commodities pushed African agri-food sales to the United States higher, driven largely by raw materials such as cocoa, coffee and cashews.
Trade in agri-food products between the United States and African countries surged to $11.57 billion in 2025, showing the strongest level in five years and signalling renewed momentum in transatlantic agricultural exchange, according to data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
The increase, up from $7.47 billion in 2024, reflects broad-based growth in both African exports to the United States and U.S. shipments to African markets.
African exports to the U.S. rose sharply to nearly $5.85 billion, a 48% increase compared with the previous year. The USDA data suggests the expansion may have been driven by both higher export volumes and improved global prices for key commodities.
CBI News reports that exports from the continent remain heavily concentrated in raw agricultural goods, including cocoa, coffee, cashew nuts and spices. West and East African economies dominate the supply chain, with Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, South Africa, Madagascar and Kenya among the leading exporters.
Most of these countries benefit from preferential access to the U.S. market under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which continues to underpin a significant share of Africa’s trade with Washington. Sub-Saharan Africa accounted for roughly 80% of U.S. agricultural imports from the continent.
On the other side of the trade balance, U.S. agri-food exports to Africa also expanded significantly, rising 61% to $5.71 billion. North Africa remained the primary destination, led by Egypt, while Nigeria was the largest market in Sub-Saharan Africa. Key American exports included soybeans, wheat, animal feed and seafood products.
Despite the sharp rise in imports from the United States, Africa recorded a modest agri-food trade surplus of $141 million in 2025. This is the first time in five years that the continent has exported more agricultural and food products to the U.S. than it has imported, marking a symbolic shift in the trade balance.
The USDA also noted increased trade engagement efforts, including agricultural missions and sector-specific conferences across Ghana, Nigeria and Morocco aimed at expanding market access for American exporters.
