3.5 Benin Food and Additional Suppliers

Overview

Benin is open to foreign trade, with international trade accounting for 70% of GDP (2017 World Bank data). The country is a member of various trade organizations including the WTO and UEMOA (West African Economic and Monetary Union). There is an immense possibility to procure food and other non-food items from on the local markets, depending on the commodity itself. The local market can meet demands and scale up if required. Most goods that are traded pass through the port of Cotonou. In 2015, an external tariff common to all of ECOWAS was introduced.

The trend of structural trade deficit for Benin is expected to continue in 2018. Exports are mostly composed of low-cost agricultural products. The country is largely dependent on imports for, especially for its supply of oil and electricity. The trade deficit fell to $ 1.22 billion in 2016 as imports fell at a faster pace than exports. The steady growth of cotton production might partially reduce the trade deficit. According to the National Institute of Statistics and Economic Analysis of Benin (INSAE), exports amounted to 80.98 million XOF in Q4 2017 (an increase of 165.5% compared to the same period of the previous year), while imports increased by 483.63 million XOF at the same time (an increase of 12.7%).

Local manufacturers face some challenges of electricity costs, but can accommodate the multiple demands from different layers of the populations.

Benin's primary exports are cotton, cashew nuts, coconuts, Brazil nuts, shea nuts, boats, cement, textile products and seafood to India, Niger, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam and Bangladesh. The main imported products are foodstuffs (rice, meat), petroleum products, electricity, drugs and capital goods from France, China, India, Thailand. Benin is also very active in re-export, mainly to Nigeria.

In 2016, the key exports, imports and the trade balance were presented as below

Imported $4.75B, making it the 128th largest importer in the world. During the last five years the imports of Benin have decreased at an annualized rate of -13.3%, from $9.5B in 2011 to $4.75B in 2016. The most recent imports are led by Rice which represent 19.8% of the total imports of Benin, followed by Palm Oil, which account for 5.98%
Exported $1.11B, making it the 146th largest exporter in the world. During the last five years the exports of Benin have decreased at an annualized rate of -0.7%, from $1.14B in 2011 to $1.11B in 2016. The most recent exports are led by Gold which represent 34.4% of the total exports of Benin, followed by Raw Cotton, which account for 17.9%.
Trade balance was negative of $3.65B in net imports. As compared to their trade balance in 1995 when it still had a negative trade balance of $554M in net imports.

(Source available here)

Smaller private companies are owned by citizens of Benin, and some companies are of foreign origin, mainly French and Lebanese. Private commercial and agricultural sectors remain the main contributors to growth. Benin was affected by the global economic crisis in 2008/2009, seeing its growth rate halved from 5.0% in 2008 to 2.7% in 2009 and 2.6% in 2010. After this slowdown, Benin experienced a moderate recovery to 3.5% in 2011. In 2012, Benin's average monthly income per capita was $ 63, or $750 per year. 

The manufacturing sector is primarily involved in processing commodities and the production of consumer goods. The recent World Bank report "Doing Business 2016" ranked Benin for the second time among the 10 most reforming countries in the world. In 2015, Benin recorded three reforms in terms of business creation indicators, building permits and cross-border trade. 

For a general overview of country data related to the service and supply sectors, please consult the following source: Benin - The Observatory of Economic Complexity – MIT (OEC)

Disclaimer: Inclusion of company information in the LCA does not imply any business relationship between the supplier and WFP / Logistics Cluster, and is used solely as a determinant of services, and capacities.

Please note: WFP / Logistics Cluster maintain complete impartiality and are not in a position to endorse, comment on any company's suitability as a reputable service provider.

Benin - 3.5.1 Food Suppliers

Overview

In Benin, the last quarter of 2022 was characterized by a general drop in the prices of all local food products. This declines in food prices are attributable to the harvest period (October – December) of most local food products. However, the massive export of local products to other neighbouring countries continues to have a negative impact on food prices at the national level.

Between December 2021-2022, local cereals such as local rice, millet and sorghum recorded respective annual average price increases of +11%, +8% and +4%; while the price of maize decreased by 2% during the same period. Compared to the five-year average, there were price increases of +27%, +20%, +18% and 10% respectively for millet, maize, local rice, and sorghum.

Additional information can be found from sources which are regularly maintained and reflect current facts and figures. For more specific and detailed overviews of food availability and market conditions, please consult the following sources:

For further information about retail market in Benin (November 2023) click here

Types of Retailers Available
Type of Retailer	Rank (1-5) where 1 is the most commonly used by the population, and 5 is the least commonly used
Supermarket – concentrates mainly in supplying a range of food, beverage, cleaning and sanitation products; have significant purchasing power; are often part of national/regional/global chains.	5
Convenience Store/Mini Market – medium sized shop; offers a more limited range of products than supermarkets; usually has good/stable purchasing power; may be part of chain or cooperative.	4
Permanent shop with important supply capacity – individually/family-owned store; usually offers few commodities and a limited selection of brands; good storage and reliable supply options.	3
Permanent shop with limited supply capacity – individually/family-owned store; offers fewe commodities and a limited selection of brands; limited storage and unstable supply options.	1
Mobile Shop/Market Stand – individually/family owned store; usually offers few commodities and a limited selection of brands; may be found at outdoor markets, camps or unstable environments.	1

Wholesale

Most wholesalers are based in Cotonou and some principal towns but can be found in all cities. The wholesalers that are listed in contact list 4.10 can be requested to deliver throughout the country if required.

Supplier Overview
Company Name	Suppliers of cereals, pulses, sugar, edible oils, sugar, salt and more
Address	Cotonou, Porto Novo, Ouida, Bohicon, Parakou, Natitingou, Djougou and Savé.
Does the supplier have its own production / manufacturing capacity?	Few suppliers have their own chain of production in the sense that it makes up most of the supply. Will usually collect food in areas where they are known.
Does the supplier have its own retail capacity?	Most will combine retail and wholesale in the city where they are based. Import based wholesalers are more likely to specialise. Some wholesalers will have extensive networks.
Does the supplier have its own transport capacity?	Some have their own transport capacity. All listed in page 4.10 Benin Supplier Contact List can arrange transport.
Does the supplier have its own storage facilities?	The suppliers listed in section 4.10 Benin Supplier Contact List have storage facilities, either rented or owned.
Approximate Turnover in MT	Most wholesalers in the contact list 4.10 Benin Supplier Contact List can be relied on for tonnages up to 1,000 mt per procurement but may encounter problems if this limit is exceeded. For quantities surpassing 1,000 mt wholesalers such as ETG SARL, Sociéte Sherika Oluwa Toyin, Société DIFEZI et Fils, have the capacity to meet demands.
Payment Methods Accepted	Cash, bank transfer, checks
Other Comments or Key Information	Taxes are applicable on the market’s transactions in Benin

Other Locations
Region(s)	Service Location(s)
Littoral – Louémé-Zou-Borgou- Atakora, etc.	Cotonou (Littoral), Porto Novo (Louémé), Bohicon (Zou), Parakou (Borgou), Natitingou (Atakora)
Plateau - Donga- Alibori- Atlantique	Pobè- Djougou- Kandi- Ouida

Primary Goods / Commodities Available
Commodities by Type** (SITC Rev 4 Division Code - Title)		Comments
00 - Live animals (other than fish, crustaceans, molluscs, etc.)	i.e. sheep and goats, swine, poultry…	Can be obtained through marketplaces throughout the country. Mostly cattle, sheep, cows. The biggest market offerings are from June to February. Pig farms are established for all months of the year but have more offering in December during the end of year seasonal holidays.
01 - Meat and meat preparations	i.e meat of bovine animals, meat of sheep, dried or smoked meat of swine, sausages…	Locally produced all year long. Can be obtained through Abattoirs of Cotonou and in the main towns or through wholesalers such as Miseboo, Akpakpa Markets and the Supermarkets.
02 - Dairy products and birds’ eggs	i.e. milk, yogurt, butter, cheese, eggs…	Local production. Benin doesn’t have an industrial of milk production. The traditional technology of production of Fulani cheese called waragashi occupies an important place in the artisanal processing of fresh milk.
03 - Fish (not marine mammals), crustaceans, molluscs…	i.e. fish (chilled or frozen), fish (salted or in brine), fish liver and roes…	Obtainable through markets (local fishery) and supermarkets and small wholesalers linked to the port of Cotonou and the local fishers in the lakes, rivers.
04 - Cereals and cereal preparations	i.e. wheat, rice, flour of maize, pasta...	Maize, rice, sorghum and millet are locally produced, other products are imported. The larger wholesalers can be found in the contact list 4.10 Benin Supplier Contact List.
05 - Vegetables and fruit	i.e. vegetables, fruit and nuts, jams/jellies, fruit juices…	Mostly imported. Some quantities of fruits, mangoes, oranges, onions are local produced. They can be found through retailers and local markets.
06 - Sugars, sugar preparations and honey	i.e. sugars (beet or cane) raw, natural honey, fruit/nuts preserved by sugar …	Brown sugar is produced in Benin, but not in enough quantity to be exported on regular basis. Benin imports other sugars. The local honey as well.  The larger import wholesalers can be found in the contact list 4.10 Benin Supplier Contact List.
07 - Coffee, tea, cocoa, spices and manufactures thereof	i.e. coffee, cocoa, chocolate, tea, mate, pepper…	Some quantities produced in Benin. But the quantity is insufficient. The largest quantity is Imported. The larger import wholesalers can be found in the contact list 4.10 Benin Supplier Contact List.
09 - Miscellaneous edible products and preparations	i.e. ready-to-eat foods, margarine, sauces, soups and broths, yeasts…	Will produce ready-to-eat foods locally.
41 - Animal oils and fats	i.e. lard, fats and oils…	Some small societies have been mentioned as producer of ready-to-eat foods locally, around Cotonou and Porto Novo.
42/43 - Fixed vegetable fats and oils, crude, refined or fractionated	i.e. soya bean oil, olive oil, maize oil, vegetable oil…	Fludor in Bohicon has a processing factory for edible oils.

**For non-food products please see section 3.5.2 Additional Suppliers, and for FUEL/PETROLEUM products please see section 3.1 Fuel.

Please note: WFP / Logistics Cluster maintain complete impartiality and are not in a position to endorse, comment on any company's suitability as a reputable service provider.

Yamaya Supermarché

For more information on food supplier contact details, please see the following link

Retail Sector

The retail market in Benin has been growing in recent years, especially around Porto Novo and Cotonou. In fact, outside of bigger towns most Beninese still buying from local markets (for the food that they cannot cultivate themselves by subsistence farming). Most products sold in supermarkets are imported and thus more expensive: Mainly accessible for the population who have a higher suitable income. In general, Beninese population buy essential products in local markets (e.g., Dantokpa Market in Cotonou), and non-basic products in supermarkets (like meat, cosmetics, etc.).

Erevan Bénin is the biggest distribution chain in the country, and it operates in partnership with the French firm, Carrefour.

The main supermarket chains active in Benin include:

Attidza

CBND

Erevan Hypermarché

Étoile

Mayfair

Megamart

Starlight

Unidis

Benin - 3.5.2 Additional Suppliers

Overview

In Benin, some construction materials such as cements (by Ciments du Benin, Nouvelle Cimenterie du Benin, etc..) are produced in place. Some materials like irons, roof, water pumps, tents, pipes, computer / IT equipment and office furniture are imported and mostly procured internationally. The above stated commodities can be found at marketplaces and at retailers listed in the contact sections of this assessment.

There is very little manufacturing in Benin. The biggest zones of factories are in Nigeria and most of the stock and equipment come from Nigerian markets.

Strategically, for humanitarian organisations there is an UN Humanitarian Response Depot (UNHRD) based in Accra, Ghana to cover needs in the region.

For more information on suppliers’ contact details, please see the following link.

Primary Goods / Commodities Available
Commodities by Type** (SITC Rev 4 Division Code - Title)		Comments
24/27 - Crude materials, inedible, except fuel	i.e. fuel wood, crude fertilizers, sand/stone/gravel	Locally available
51 to 59 - Chemical and related products	i.e. chlorine, pharmaceuticals, soaps, plastic tubes/pipes, chemical fertilizers	Imported to Benin markets
61 to 69 - Manufactured goods classified chiefly by material	i.e. rubber tyres, wood pallets, textiles, cement, iron/steel pipe fittings, copper wire, metal tanks	Imported to Benin markets
71 to 79 - Machinery and transport equipment	i.e. engine/machine parts, generators, sewing machines, pumps, telecoms equipment, vehicles	Imported to Benin markets
81 to 89 - Miscellaneous manufactured articles	i.e. prefabricated buildings, lighting fixtures, furniture, clothing, medical/surgical instruments	Imported to Benin markets
91/93/96/97 - Commodities not classified elsewhere		Imported to Benin markets

**For FOOD products please see section 3.5.1 Food Suppliers, and for FUEL/PETROLEUM products please see section 3.1 Fuel.

Please note: WFP / Logistics Cluster maintain complete impartiality and are not in a position to endorse, comment on any company's suitability as a reputable service provider.