Nigeria is Africa's largest economy and a major oil producer. Its grain processing industry is highly concentrated, with some of the world's largest food players. The government is responding to the country's dependence on imported wheat, whose disadvantages were evidenced by the effects of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, working to increase domestic production.

In its June 23 grain market report, the International Grain Council (IGC) put Nigeria's total grain production in 2022-23 at 21.6 million tons, a revised figure from the previous month's forecast of 21.1 million. It put production from 2021-22 at 21.5 million.

The IGC put the country's corn crop at 12.5 million tons, revised up from 12 million a month earlier, but below the 12.7 million the previous year. Sorde production is estimated at 7 million tons, an estimate not revised, with the previous year at 6.7 million.

Total grain imports in 2022-23 were forecast at 6 million tonnes, the same number as the previous month's report, up from 5.8 million the previous season. Wheat imports were forecast at 5.9 million tons, an unrevised figure, up from 5.7 million the previous year.

The 2022-23 rice crop is estimated at 5.4 million tons, not revised in May, with the previous year at 5.3 million. Nigeria is expected to import 2.1 million tons of rice, also unrevised, up from 2 million the previous year. According to an annual grain sector attaché report dated April 7, Nigeria will produce 160,000 tonnes of wheat in 2022-23, up from 90,000 in 2021-22.

Source: Agrolink