Ranking of African Countries Producing the Most Cotton in 2025
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In the heart of Africa, the cotton industry plays a significant role in various economies, providing livelihoods and contributing to economic growth. Here's a snapshot of some of the continent's leading cotton producers.
Tanzania
Smallholder farmers, who manage plots of 1-2 hectares, dominate the cotton industry in Tanzania. The country's cotton production is expected to reach around 400,000 bales in the 2025/26 season, an increase from the previous season. The Tanzania Cotton Board (TCB) plays a central role in regulating the sector, licensing buyers, setting farm-gate prices, and ensuring grading standards. However, weather shocks and pest outbreaks have kept Tanzania's cotton production unpredictable.
Cameroon
Cameroon's cotton industry is one of the best-organised in West and Central Africa, producing around 650,000 bales in the 2025/26 season. SODECOTON coordinates cotton production, ensuring timely input delivery, efficient collection, and consistent ginning. Cotton growing is concentrated in the Far North, North, and Adamawa regions, supporting the livelihoods of nearly 2 million people directly and indirectly. Cotton is also a key contributor to Cameroon's 3.5% GDP growth in 2024.
Benin
Benin has cemented its position as one of Africa's top two cotton producers, turning out between 1.20 and 1.26 million bales in 2025/2026. The Association Interprofessionnelle du Coton (AIC) is the backbone of Benin's cotton success. Cotton remains a pillar of Benin's economy, accounting for around 70% of agricultural export value.
Mali
Mali is once again Africa's top cotton producer, with approximately 1.30 million bales expected in the 2025/2026 season. Cotton is Mali's most important agricultural export and a lifeline for rural communities in the south. The Compagnie Malienne pour le Développement du Textile (CMDT) is at the heart of Mali's cotton success, overseeing input supply, extension services, ginning, and exports.
Côte d'Ivoire
Côte d'Ivoire's cotton production is on track to reach 745,000 bales in 2025/2026, grown on about 375,000 hectares with yields averaging 433 kg/hectare. Cotton is almost entirely export-driven, with 735,000 bales expected to be shipped in 2025/2026, mostly to Asian markets. The Conseil du Coton et de l'Anacarde (CCA) has played a key role in stabilising Côte d'Ivoire's cotton sector.
Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso's cotton industry is settling at around 610,000 bales in the 2025/26 season, a recovery from the low point of 2022/2023. The cotton value chain in Burkina Faso is dominated by three main players, SOFITEX, SOCOMA, and FASO COTON. In 2020, cotton represented about 47% of agricultural export revenues in Burkina Faso.
Egypt
The largest exporter of cotton in Africa in 2025 is Egypt. The exact production figures for the 2025/2026 season are not available at the time of this article.
In conclusion, Africa's cotton industry is a vital economic sector, providing livelihoods and contributing to economic growth across the continent. The success of this industry is due in part to the organisation and coordination efforts of bodies like SODECOTON, AIC, CMDT, TCB, and the CCA, as well as the resilience of smallholder farmers in the face of weather shocks and pest outbreaks.
