Annually, the U.S. imports oilseeds and grains worth tens of millions of dollars from Africa while exporting less than 10% of what it imports from the continent. Oilseeds, seed oils, are seeds grown primarily for the production of edible oils. They got their name from the method of extraction of the oils. Extraction of the oils is from the seeds of a plant instead of the fruit. Most vegetable oils such as sunflower oil, corn oil, and sesame oils are seed oils.
Annually, the U.S. imports oilseeds and grains worth tens of millions of dollars from Africa while exporting less than 10% of what it imports from the continent.
Oilseeds, seed oils, are seeds grown primarily for the production of edible oils. Extraction of the oils is from the seeds of a plant instead of the fruit. Most vegetable oils such as sunflower oil, corn oil, and sesame oils are seed oils.
Breakdown & Key Metrics
U.S. Oilseeds and Grains Imports from Africa
A cursory review of data extracted from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Census Bureau, show that importation of oilseeds and grains from Africa has been on the rise from 2011.
In 2011, the total cost of oilseeds and grains imported from Africa by the US was 18.38 million USD. This would be the lowest import cost of oilseeds and grains the U.S. imported from Africa. By 2012, the import value increased to 24.38 million USD and increased further to 27.55 million USD before declining to 23.3 million USD the following year.
U.S. import values of oilseeds and grains from Africa increased to 28.33 million USD in 2015. In 2016, this increased by an additional 50% in 2016 to 42.24 million USD, the highest import of oilseeds and grains from Africa to the U.S.
Transaction records show U.S. import of oilseeds and grains decline sharply from 42.24 million USD to 25.28 million USD in 2017 and rise again to 26.7 million USD in 2018. By 2019, U.S. imports of oilseeds and grains from Africa fall for a third time since 2011 to 23.79 million USD before recovering to similar highs of 2016 import values in 2020 and 2021 of 41 million USD and 42 million USD, respectively.
U.S. Oilseeds and Grains Exports to Africa
In 2011, U.S. oilseeds and grains export to Africa hit highs of 3.94 million USD before dropping to 2.66 million USD in 2012 and declining further to 2.44 million USD in 2013. Exports to Africa declined marginally by 20,000 USD to 2.42 million USD in 2014.
U.S. oilseeds and grains exportation to the African continent experienced a sharp dip from 2.42 million USD the previous year to 1.55 million USD, its lowest point ever between 2011 and 2021.Exportation of oilseeds and grains by the U.S. to Africa started an upward trend, with exports values increasing to 1.72 million USD in 2016, 1.75 million USD in 2017 and 2.60 million USD in 2018.
Transaction records between the US and Africa showed U.S. exports of the agriculture produce decline briefly in 2019 to 2.32 million USD then rise to 2.46 million USD in 2020 and 3 million USD in 2021.
Takeaway
Africa is the second largest continent in Africa with a total area of 30.4 million square kilometre. Its agricultural landscape is brimming with untapped potential capable of producing various crops and grain - corn, wheat and rice, and contributing more than its current levels of 23% to Africa's GDP.
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