African Cotton Exporter, Benin Eyes Finished Products

Africa’s biggest cotton exporter, Benin, has built an industrial park to move the country away from raw exports to finished products. 

Environmental activists say local manufacturing will also cut down on emissions.

According to government figures, Benin has in the last few years become Africa’s leading cotton producer, with annual production of 728,000 tonnes in 2020/21.

Cotton is grown in several West African countries including Mali, Togo, Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast, but most is exported raw with little industrial processing across the region.