Best Agricultural Products to Export From Africa to International Markets

Africa has a broad range of agricultural products with established connections to international markets, from cocoa and cashew nuts to sesame, coffee, spices, fruits, vegetables and processed foods.

But choosing an agricultural product for export should involve more than asking which commodity has the highest international price.

The right export opportunity depends on where the crop is produced, the quality that can be achieved, available supply, processing capacity, buyer requirements, logistics, market regulations and the ability to deliver consistently.

This regional difference is important. FAO’s current One Country One Priority Product initiative identifies very different priority agricultural products across African countries, including cocoa in Equatorial Guinea and Uganda, teff in Ethiopia, cashew in Guinea-Bissau, avocado in Tanzania, cloves in parts of the region, honey in Rwanda and Benin, and baby vegetables in Eswatini.

Africa’s broader export structure also shows why agricultural value addition matters. UNCTAD reported that primary goods accounted for 76.7% of Africa’s merchandise exports in 2025, illustrating the continent’s continued reliance on primary commodities.

For agricultural businesses, the opportunity is therefore not only in exporting raw commodities. There is also potential in cleaning, grading, processing, packaging and developing products that meet specific international market requirements.

Honey is another agricultural product with export potential in selected African markets.

FAO identifies honey as the special agricultural product for Benin and Rwanda under its African priority-product programme.

Honey can be sold as a raw food product or incorporated into processed food products, depending on the market and applicable requirements.

Quality control is particularly important because international buyers may require testing for moisture, residues, contaminants and other characteristics.

African honey exporters therefore need reliable collection, filtration, storage and packaging systems rather than simply collecting honey and filling containers.

Teff and Other Traditional Crops

Some African export opportunities lie in crops that have historically received less international attention.

Ethiopia identifies teff as its special agricultural product under FAO’s African priority-product initiative. FAO has also highlighted opportunity crops across Africa, including millets, sorghum landraces, fonio, bambara groundnut and indigenous vegetables.

These products can serve both domestic and international markets.

The important commercial question is whether there is sufficient demand, consistent supply and a suitable quality and regulatory framework to support exports.

For emerging crops, exporters should conduct market research before scaling production rather than assuming that international interest will automatically translate into profitable sales.

Regional Differences Matter

Africa should not be treated as a single agricultural export market.

West Africa has particularly strong positions in cocoa, cashew, sesame, shea-related products, cotton and several other commodities. East Africa has important coffee, tea, horticultural, spice and oilseed value chains. Southern Africa has significant fruit, wine, horticultural, grain and livestock-related agricultural industries. Central Africa has opportunities in cocoa, bananas, cassava and other crops.

FAO’s current African priority-product map demonstrates this diversity across individual countries.

The result is that the most suitable export product for a farmer in Côte d’Ivoire may be very different from the product that makes sense for a producer in Ethiopia, Tanzania, Nigeria, Rwanda or South Africa.

Climate, soil, rainfall, existing infrastructure, farming traditions and established buyer networks all influence which export products can be supplied competitively.

Raw Products or Processed Products?

One of the most important decisions for an African agricultural exporter is whether to export raw produce or add value before export.

Raw commodities can require less processing investment, but the exporter may capture less of the overall value chain.

Processing can create additional value and employment, but it requires investment in machinery, quality control, food safety, packaging, energy, labour and market development.

There is no universal answer.

The appropriate strategy depends on the commodity, scale of production, available infrastructure, buyer demand, financing and regulations in the target market.

Choose the Product Based on Supply Capacity

International buyers generally need consistency.

A farmer may produce an excellent commodity in one season, but an exporter supplying an overseas buyer needs to consider whether the same quality and quantity can be delivered repeatedly.

This is why aggregation can be important for African agricultural exports.

Farmer cooperatives, aggregators and structured supply chains can combine production from multiple farms while applying common quality and handling standards.

The objective is not simply to collect more produce. The supply must remain traceable and consistent.

Quality Can Matter More Than Volume

A large agricultural harvest does not automatically create an export opportunity.

International buyers can reject or discount a commodity because of moisture problems, contamination, physical damage, inconsistent grading, poor packaging or failure to meet regulatory requirements.

For spices and food products, contamination can be particularly serious. For fresh horticultural products, maturity and cold-chain performance can determine whether the product reaches the market in acceptable condition.

For cocoa, cashew and sesame, grading, cleaning, drying and storage can strongly influence commercial quality.

This means export preparation should begin at farm level.

Market Access Should Influence Product Choice

The product should be selected together with the market.

A commodity may have international demand but face strict import requirements in a particular destination. Another market may offer easier access but lower prices or stronger competition.

FAO’s 2026 agricultural-market analysis emphasises that global agricultural trade is increasingly exposed to shocks including extreme weather, conflict, pandemics and macroeconomic pressures.

For African exporters, diversification of both products and markets can therefore be relevant to long-term resilience.

Consider Regional African Markets Too

International markets do not necessarily mean Europe, North America or Asia.

African exporters should also consider markets elsewhere on the continent.

ITC estimates that there is substantial unrealised export potential within Africa as well as outside the continent, while its research on African businesses highlights opportunities for market and product diversification.

The African Continental Free Trade Area also creates a broader framework for increasing intra-African trade, although actual market access still depends on product requirements, customs procedures, logistics and implementation in individual markets.

For some agricultural businesses, a nearby African market may offer a more manageable first export destination than a distant overseas market.

How to Choose the Right Agricultural Export Product

The most appropriate export product should be assessed using several factors rather than price alone.

The answers will differ from one African country and commodity to another.

Export Opportunities Are Not the Same as Guaranteed Profits

A product can have strong international demand and still be difficult for an individual exporter to sell profitably.

Production costs, farmgate prices, aggregation costs, processing, packaging, inland transport, freight, insurance, tariffs, finance, rejection risk and exchange-rate movements can all affect the final result.

This is why claims that a particular crop is automatically the “most profitable export product” should be treated cautiously.

The more useful question is whether the product fits the producer’s resources and can meet a specific market’s requirements at a commercially sustainable cost.

Final Thoughts

Africa has a wide range of agricultural products capable of serving international markets. Cocoa, cashew, sesame, coffee, spices, horticultural produce, honey and processed foods all represent important parts of the continent’s agricultural value chains, while emerging crops such as teff, fonio and other traditional products may create additional opportunities in suitable markets.

But there is no single agricultural product that is automatically the right export opportunity for every African country.

West Africa’s strengths differ from those of East, Central and Southern Africa. Even within the same region, production conditions and established supply chains can vary substantially.

For farmers and agribusinesses, the strongest starting point is therefore to identify products that the region can produce consistently, research international demand, understand quality and regulatory requirements, assess logistics and determine whether processing or value addition can improve the commercial proposition.

International agricultural trade rewards reliable supply and consistent quality. The export opportunity begins not simply with finding a buyer, but with building a product and supply chain that can satisfy that buyer repeatedly.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best agricultural products to export from Africa?

Major African agricultural export products include cocoa, cashew nuts, sesame, coffee, spices, horticultural products, honey and various processed foods. The appropriate product depends on the producing country, available supply, quality, market demand, logistics and destination-market requirements.

Which African countries are major cocoa exporters?

Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana are the world’s largest cocoa exporters, while Cameroon is also a significant exporter. FAO states that the three countries together account for nearly two-thirds of global cocoa exports.

Is cashew a good agricultural export product from Africa?

Cashew is an established export commodity in several African countries. Guinea-Bissau, for example, identifies cashew as its main export product, while FAO is supporting efforts to improve production, sustainability and local processing in the country’s cashew value chain.

Which African countries produce sesame for export?

Ethiopia is an important African sesame-producing country, with sesame identified as a major cash crop in several parts of the country. Other African countries also produce and export sesame, so exporters should examine country-specific production and trade data before entering a market.

What African agricultural products can be processed before export?

Many products can be processed or value-added before export, including cocoa, cashew, sesame, coffee, fruits, vegetables, spices and honey. Processing can include cleaning, grading, roasting, drying, milling, extracting, packaging or producing finished food products, depending on the commodity and market.

Are fresh fruits and vegetables good export products from Africa?

Fresh horticultural products can access international markets, but they require strong post-harvest handling and logistics. Products such as avocado, banana, pineapple, vegetables and other fresh produce can require careful harvesting, grading, packaging, cooling and transportation.

Should African exporters sell raw agricultural products or processed products?

The answer depends on the commodity, available capital, processing infrastructure, buyer demand and regulations. Raw exports can require less processing investment, while value addition can create opportunities to capture more stages of the supply chain. Processing also introduces additional requirements for equipment, quality control, food safety and packaging.

How can I find international buyers for African agricultural products?

Start by identifying countries that import your specific commodity, then research importers, processors, distributors and manufacturers in those markets. Trade databases, agricultural trade fairs, industry associations, export-promotion agencies and buyer directories can help identify potential customers.