Burkina Faso’s government announced on July 21 that it had lifted a nationwide ban on exports of millet,
maize and sorghum flour. The decision ends a measure introduced on February 23, 2022, to safeguard domestic food supplies amid concerns over availability.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Handicrafts, the move is intended to “help domestic processors clear their inventories of cereal products.” Businesses can now resume flour exports after a suspension of more than four years. Exporters will, however, still need to obtain a Special Export Authorization, or ASE, before shipping their products, giving authorities continued oversight of the volumes exported.
Cereal Production Rises Sharply
The reopening follows a substantial increase in Burkina Faso’s cereal output over the past five agricultural seasons. National production rose from 4.66 million metric tons in 2021/22 to 7.14 million tons in 2025/26, an increase of about 53% over the period.
Data from the National Institute of Statistics and Demography (INSD), nevertheless show that growth was uneven. Output stagnated at around 5.1 million tons during the 2022/23 and 2023/24 seasons before climbing to about 6 million tons in 2024/25 and reaching a record high in 2025/26. Maize accounts for nearly 38% of national cereal output, while sorghum and paddy rice represent 34% and 14%, respectively. Millet is also one of the country’s principal cereal crops.
The government has not directly linked the increase in production to its decision to lift the flour export ban. Access to new markets for processed products could, however, increase demand for locally grown cereals over time and support the development of the country’s cereal-processing industry.
According to INSD data, an average of 4.2 million hectares was planted with cereal crops each year in Burkina Faso between the 2019/20 and 2023/24 seasons.
