The US Department of Agriculture estimates domestic wheat consumption in Nigeria at 5.8 million tons in the 2022/23 season. However, difficulties with the supply of grain from the Black Sea region in 2022 and the COVID-19 pandemic have exposed the vulnerability of the Nigerian food system. Prior to the start of the NWO in Ukraine, the country imported significant amounts of wheat from Russia and other Black Sea countries, as bread is a staple food for millions of Nigerians.
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However, processors are currently facing serious business challenges amid rising freight and energy costs. Nigerian wheat imports are estimated by FAS USDA analysts in the 2022/23 season at 6.0 million tons, which is 3% less than in the 2021/22 season. Events in Ukraine contributed to the decline in wheat imports. In 2021, Nigeria imported 51% of its wheat demand from Russia, Lithuania, Latvia and other Baltic countries. Amid the global wheat price surge, wheat from Russia, Ukraine and other Black Sea countries remains the cheapest option for many mills in Nigeria. Many millers mix Black Sea wheat with more expensive premium wheat from the US and Canada to get the product they need to make bread. At the same time, processors have increased the cost of wheat flour to account for high logistics costs and the cost of diesel fuel, which is used to power generators, a source of energy in Nigeria. With wheat imports from Russia falling, Nigeria is exploring options for mixing wheat with ...
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