Burkina Faso has lifted a four-year ban on cereal flour exports, allowing local processors to resume shipments of millet, maize and sorghum flour to overseas markets as the country seeks to expand agricultural trade while maintaining food security.

The decision, announced on July 21, reverses restrictions introduced in February 2022 when the government moved to protect domestic food supplies amid rising market pressures.

The policy change gives cereal processors new opportunities to sell surplus products while keeping government oversight on export volumes.

Under the new rules, exporters must obtain a Special Export Authorization before shipping cereal-based products abroad.

Authorities said the measure will help monitor supplies leaving the country and ensure local consumers continue to have access to essential food products.

The Ministry of Industry, Trade and Handicrafts said the move is aimed at helping national processing companies sell existing stocks of cereal-based products.

The decision comes as Burkina Faso reports stronger harvests and improved cereal production in recent farming seasons.

Rising cereal output supports export decision

Burkina Faso’s cereal production has increased significantly in recent years, giving processors more supply to meet both domestic demand and export opportunities.

National output rose from 4.66 million tonnes in the 2021/2022 farming season to 7.14 million tonnes in 2025/2026, according to figures from the National Institute of Statistics and Demography.

Production remained around 5.1 million tonnes during the 2022/2023 and 2023/2024 seasons before reaching nearly 6 million tonnes in 2024/2025. The latest figures represent the highest recorded output during the period.

Maize remains the country’s leading cereal crop, accounting for nearly 38% of total production, followed by sorghum at 34% and paddy rice at 14%.

Millet also remains an important crop for rural communities and local food consumption.

Policy shift opens opportunities for local processors

The reopening of cereal flour exports could provide new business opportunities for processing companies that purchase grain from farmers and turn it into finished products for regional markets.

While the government did not directly link higher production levels to the export decision, the policy change reflects an effort to support agricultural businesses while keeping safeguards in place to protect domestic food supplies.

Burkina Faso’s agricultural sector has maintained a strong production base, with farmers cultivating an average of 4.2 million hectares of cereal crops annually between the 2019/2020 and 2023/2024 seasons.