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According to data from the Foreign Agricultural Services department of the U.S. Department of Agriculture on the West African prospects for the United States exporters, Senegal is one of the biggest West African economies with yearly GDP growth of over 6 per cent within the past three years. Senegal imports at least 70 per cent of its food as population increase, urbanisation, and evolving eating lifestyles have caused an expansion and diversification of food imported.
The upper-to-middle class- in Senegal, representing 10 per cent of the population, is gradually changing its food preference and buying habits leading to an increase in the demand for high-value, top-quality imported food. Consumers of U.S. food in Senegal have a positive perception of food from that area, as they believe that food from the United States is quality food. They spend, on average, at least 58 per cent of their disposable income on purchasing beverages and food.
In 2018, Senegal imported agricultural and related products of about $1.7 billion as U.S. export of agricultural and similar products to Senegal amounted to $12.2 million, showing a decrease of 44 per cent from 2014 due to costly goods and commodity prices.
The principal exports of the United States included feed supplements, prepared food and soybean oil. In the Senegalese markets, China, India and the EU are the United States’ top competitors.
According to data from the Foreign Agricultural Services department of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Senegal has banned imports of poultry products and uncooked poultry since 2005. In 2018, they imported about $1.1 million in processed and cooked poultry products, not excluding eggs and these imports were not from the United States.
Also, in Senegal, no genetically engineered food or commodity can be imported into the country.
Major Agricultural Trade Prospects between Senegal and the United States
Feed Supplements:
One of the most prominent products exported to Senegal from the United States in 2018 were feeds and fodders, which was a 2400 increase from what was recorded previously. This could be because, from 2015 to 2016, the United States did not trade in the feed supplements market with Senegal. When it comes to the United States’ competitors in the Senegalese market, Côte d’Ivoire and the EU are the top competitors.
Soybean oil:
In 2018, the United States exported about 64 per cent amounting to $7.3 million of soybean oil to Senegal, an 85 per cent increase from the previous record. The $8 million Soybean oil market in Senegal in 2018 saw the United States as its largest exporter. The EU and Morocco are the United States’ top competitors in the soybean oil market.
Beef products:
After fish, the Senegalese second-largest popularly enjoyed source of protein is beef, and in 2018, about $18 million worth of beef was imported into Senegal. Even though beef from the U.S. is expensive, upper- and middle-income level customers in hotels and restaurants still buy U.S. beef. Providing 57 per cent of beef imports to Senegal, India remains the top competitor in the beef market in Senegal.
Vegetables:
Fresh vegetables like onions, potatoes, shallot, carrot, turnips and garlic were imported by Senegal, totalling about $118 million in 2018, with shallots, garlic and leeks alone amounting to $87 million. From 2014 to 2018, an 80 per cent increase in imports of shallots and onions was recorded. The United States’ top competitors in this fresh vegetable market are China, Morocco and the EU.
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Research Source:
United States Department of Agriculture
