Sonoco secures $23 million Proparco funding to build Sierra Leone’s first wheat-flour plant

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At a Glance

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• Proparco’s $23 million facility funds Sierra Leone’s first large-scale wheat-flour plant.
• The project cuts import reliance and strengthens food security across Mano River states.
• New mill boosts jobs, regional exports, and Sierra Leone’s role in West Africa’s grain supply.

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Sonoco Limited, one of Sierra Leone’s most influential trading groups, has secured a $23 million long-term facility from Proparco to build Sierra Leone’s first industrial wheat-flour plant, marking one of the country’s most significant agribusiness investments in decades.

The project will introduce a 600-ton-per-day soft-wheat mill and a 40,000-ton silo complex in Freetown, cutting import dependence and strengthening food security. With demand rising across Sierra Leone, Liberia, and the Mano River region, the new facility positions Sonoco to become the country’s leading miller and an emerging West African supplier.

Once operational, the facility is expected to produce about 140,000 tons of flour annually, positioning Sonoco as Sierra Leone’s largest miller and expanding its reach into Liberia and other Mano River markets. The project also transforms the company’s role from import-led trading to value-added processing, strengthening its footprint in the regional wheat-value chain.

Proparco deepens investment in food security
The financing aligns with Proparco’s broader strategy to support food-supply resilience in fragile economies. It complements the FARM initiative, a joint effort by the EU, G7 and African Union, to boost local production of staple foods. With about 77 percent of Sierra Leoneans experiencing food insecurity, the mill is expected to help stabilize prices, reduce import dependency and increase access to locally milled flour.

Sadio Dicko, Proparco’s West Africa director, said the project reflects the agency’s commitment to helping West African countries regain control over critical food-value chains. The operation also fits Proparco’s “Explore” agenda, which prioritizes investments in high-impact, undercapitalized markets.

A strategic leap for Sonoco
For Sonoco, the wheat-flour operation marks its most ambitious industrial project to date. Already established in Sierra Leone’s trading and logistics sector, the company now moves upstream into manufacturing, an important step for long-term competitiveness.

The mill places Sonoco at the center of the country’s emerging agribusiness landscape, enabling it to serve bakeries, food processors and retailers with fresher, more consistent flour.

Industry executives familiar with the deal say the project will reduce foreign-exchange pressure by replacing bulk wheat-flour imports with local production, enhancing the country’s economic resilience.

Regional impact and economic footprint
Beyond food security gains, the project is set to create skilled jobs in operations, maintenance, logistics and quality control, expanding Sierra Leone’s industrial base. Its port-side position allows Sonoco to competitively export flour to Liberia and Guinea, markets lacking similar milling capacity.

The investment supports multiple Sustainable Development Goals, including Zero Hunger and Decent Work, and aligns with France’s international development priorities for 2025.

Sonoco’s move into industrial processing positions the company as one of West Africa’s next mid-tier agribusiness players, helping reshape regional food supply security for the decade ahead.