Reducing dependence on
rice imports has become one of
Central Africa’s agricultural priorities. At a meeting in Libreville from June 16 to 18, member states of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) approved the Regional Rice Development Strategy (SRDRAC), which aims to make rice a driver of food sovereignty and regional integration. The strategy reflects the heavy reliance on imported rice across much of the sub-region.
According to data compiled on the Trade Map platform, ECCAS countries imported an average of nearly 1.66 million metric tons of rice per year between 2021 and 2025. The import bill averaged nearly $910 million annually over the same period. Five ECCAS countries account for the bulk of those imports.
Cameroon
Cameroon is the largest market for imported rice within ECCAS, purchasing an average of nearly 760,000 metric tons per year between 2021 and 2025. According to official data, imports still meet more than half of domestic demand. Rice is a staple food in Cameroon and is the country’s second most consumed cereal after maize.
Per capita rice consumption is estimated at 25 kilograms a year. This is close to the African average of 26 kilograms between 2022 and 2025, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Strong demand reflects well-established urban dietary habits, where a growing middle class favors convenient staple foods with consistent quality.
Angola
Although Angola is not geographically part of Central Africa, it is a member state of ECCAS. Trade Map data show that the country imported an average of nearly 422,000 metric tons of rice per year over the past five years, making it the second-largest rice market in the regional bloc.
According to official data, Luanda relies on imports to meet about 90% of domestic demand, reflecting the country’s limited local production capacity. Rice is the second most consumed cereal in Angola after maize, and per capita consumption is estimated at 40 kilograms a year, well above the African average.
Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo ranks second among Central African countries on the list, importing an average of nearly 210,000 metric tons of rice per year between 2021 and 2025. According to official data, the country depends on imports to meet nearly 65% of domestic demand.
In the DRC, rice is used mainly for human consumption and beer production. Per capita consumption is an estimated seven kilograms a year, making it one of the lowest levels in the sub-region.
Republic of the Congo
The Republic of the Congo imported an average of nearly 116,200 metric tons of rice per year between 2021 and 2025. As in Angola, local production capacity remains limited, forcing the country to rely on imports for more than 90% of domestic demand, according to official data.
Rice is the country’s second most important staple after cassava, particularly in urban areas, where consumption is eight times higher than in rural areas, according to official figures. Average per capita rice consumption is estimated at 16 kilograms a year.
Gabon
Gabon rounds out the ranking with average annual rice imports of nearly 70,200 metric tons over the past five years. According to official data, the country relies on imports for virtually all of its domestic needs. Per capita rice consumption is estimated at 44 kilograms a year, the highest among the five countries listed.
According to the Gabonese authorities, rice is consumed almost daily by the vast majority of households, regardless of social class.
