Ongoing shifts in U.S. trade policy, higher export tariffs and intermittent certification delays have prompted many buyers, especially in the Global South, to reassess their reliance on American farm and food shipments. This disruption has created a window of opportunity for exporters in Asia and Africa to position themselves as reliable, cost‑competitive suppliers of key agricultural commodities, meat and poultry products.

Key Product Categories

1. Bulk Grains & Cereals

   • Rice: India shipped over 22 million MT in 2023, serving major importers across Asia, Africa and the Middle East.

   • Maize & Wheat: Ukraine’s supply challenges have left a gap that Asian exporters (Thailand, Vietnam) and African suppliers (South Africa, Zambia) can fill with competitively priced yellow maize and durum wheat.

2. Oilseeds & Vegetable Oils

   • Palm Oil: Indonesia and Malaysia collectively account for more than 85% of global palm oil output, exporting roughly $30 billion annually.

   • Sesame, Groundnut & Soybean Oils: Nigeria’s 2023 sesame exports (≈$600 million) and India’s growing soybean crush capacity offer high‑protein, versatile oil alternatives.

3. Pulses & Plant Proteins

   • Chickpeas & Lentils: India exported nearly 300 000 MT of chickpeas ($287 million) in 2023, while Canada’s recent supply constraints open doors for East African suppliers (Ethiopia, Tanzania).

   • Soybeans & Beans: Brazil may dominate global markets, but India and Uganda are scaling soybean and common bean shipments, catering to feed and food processors alike.

4. Nuts, Snack & Specialty Crops

   • Cashews & Peanuts: Nigeria’s shelled cashew exports jumped to ₦84 billion (~$200 million) in 2023—an attractive alternative to U.S. almonds and pecans.

   • Spices & Tea: Ethiopia, Kenya and Madagascar lead African spice and tea exports, collectively growing at over 6% annually.

5. Fruits & Horticulture

   • Tropical Fruits: Philippines and Thailand provide year‑round bananas, pineapples and mangoes, filling counter‑season gaps left by U.S. berry and apple shipments.

   • Citrus & Berries: South Africa ships over 6.5 million cartons of oranges and soft citrus per season, while India and Vietnam expand berry fruit volumes.

6. Beverages & Cocoa

   • Cocoa: Ivory Coast exported more than 2.2 million MT of cocoa beans in 2023, generating $3.7 billion in revenue.

   • Coffee & Tea: Ethiopia’s premium Arabica and Kenya’s black teas command growing demand among specialty roasters and blending houses.

7. Meat & Poultry Products

   • Poultry: Thailand’s broiler exports exceeded 1.1 million MT in 2023 ($2 billion), while South African producers shipped over 200 000 MT—offering lean chicken and processed cuts at competitive prices.

   • Buffalo & Beef: India and Pakistan collectively exported more than 3 million MT of buffalo and beef meat in 2023, valued at over $5 billion, catering to diverse market segments.

   • Sheep & Goat: East African exporters (Ethiopia, Kenya) supplied over 150 000 MT of sheep and goat meat in 2023—an ideal alternative for markets seeking halal and grass‑fed products.

Strategic Recommendations for Exporters

1. Guarantee Quality & Traceability
   Adopt end‑to‑end quality‑control systems—from farm gate to port—to assure buyers of consistent standards.

2. Aggregate & Scale
   Mobilize producer cooperatives to pool volumes that meet large institutional and retail contracts.

3. Optimize Logistics & Finance
   Offer flexible freight, financing and insurance solutions to mitigate currency volatility and tariff shifts.

4. Collaborate & Consortium‑Build
   Form regional export alliances to leverage collective bargaining power and secure long‑term off‑take agreements.

5. Leverage Trade Agreements
   Engage with government trade promotion agencies to access export facilitation programs, tariff concessions and preferential market access schemes.

Conclusion

As U.S. agricultural shipments face rising costs and regulatory delays, importers are actively diversifying their sourcing strategies. With abundant volumes, competitive pricing and counter‑season production cycles, Asian and African exporters are uniquely positioned to capture market share. By strengthening traceability, organizing supply at scale and leveraging trade support mechanisms, exporters across Africa and Asia can turn today’s disruption into a sustained strategic advantage on the global agri‑food and meat markets.

I hope you enjoyed reading this post and learned something new and useful from it. If you did, please share it with your friends and colleagues who might be interested in Agriculture and Agribusiness.

Mr. Kosona Chriv

Founder of LinkedIn Group « Agriculture, Livestock, Aquaculture, Agrifood, AgriTech and FoodTech » https://www.linkedin.com/groups/6789045/

Group Chief Sales and Marketing Officer

Solina / Sahel Agri-Sol Group (Ivory Coast, Senegal, Mali, Nigeria, Tanzania)

https://sahelagrisol.com/en

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