Key observations of tobacco production and trade in Africa

WHO
Tobacco free farmer from Migori County, Kenya

From 2005 to 2020 the area under tobacco cultivation decreased globally by 15.8%, while in Africa it increased by 19.8%
From 2005 to 2020, tobacco leaf production decreased globally by 4.6% and in Africa it increased by 35.7%.
East Africa accounts for 88.5% of tobacco leaf production in Africa
Africa’s Top tobacco leaf growers in 2020
- Zimbabwe (33.3%)
- Mozambique (17.2%)
- Malawi (16.8%)
- Tanzania (8.4%)
- Uganda (5.1%)
Africa’s Top tobacco leaf exporters in 2020
- Zimbabwe (42.3%)
- Malawi (24.8%)
- Mozambique (11.5%)
- Tanzania (8.3%)
- Zambia (5%)
Africa’s Top tobacco leaf importers in 2020
- Egypt (31%)
- Cote d’Ivoire (12.4%)
- Nigeria (10.5%)
- South Africa (10.2%)
- Senegal (4.7%)
Africa’s Top cigarette exporters in 2020
- South Africa (28.5%)
- Kenya (19.5%)
- Nigeria (16.8%)
- Senegal (8.1%)
- Tunisia (6.4%)
Africa’s Top cigarette importers in 2020
- Somalia (24.5%)
- Libya (22.7%)
- Morocco (6%)
- Guinea (5.8%)
- Tunisia (5.4%)
Northern African countries that comprise WHO’s Eastern Mediterranean Region have little or no role in tobacco production, though they have significant trade volumes in the import of tobacco leaf and/or cigarettes. Specifically,
1. This region accounts for less than 1% of tobacco leaf growing in Africa.
2. This region accounts for almost 39% of total tobacco leaf imported by Africa
3. This region accounts for about 63.3% of Africa’s total cigarette imports.