Africa: Stationery Market 2025

Stationery Market Size in Africa

The African stationery market shrank modestly to $X in 2022, which is down by -3.2% against the previous year. Overall, consumption showed a mild curtailment. Over the period under review, the market attained the peak level at $X in 2012; however, from 2013 to 2022, consumption failed to regain momentum.

Stationery Production in Africa

In value terms, stationery production shrank to $X in 2022 estimated in export price. Over the period under review, production continues to indicate a pronounced curtailment. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2018 with an increase of 41% against the previous year. The level of production peaked at $X in 2012; however, from 2013 to 2022, production stood at a somewhat lower figure.

Stationery Exports

Exports in Africa

In 2022, shipments abroad of articles of stationery was finally on the rise to reach X tons after three years of decline. In general, exports, however, saw a pronounced downturn. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2015 when exports increased by 18% against the previous year. The volume of export peaked at X tons in 2018; however, from 2019 to 2022, the exports stood at a somewhat lower figure.

In value terms, stationery exports amounted to $X in 2022. Overall, exports, however, showed a perceptible shrinkage. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2018 with an increase of 20% against the previous year. As a result, the exports reached the peak of $X. From 2019 to 2022, the growth of the exports remained at a lower figure.

Exports by Country

South Africa (X tons) and Tunisia (X tons) were the major exporters of articles of stationery in 2022, accounting for approx. 26% and 26% of total exports, respectively. Kenya (X tons) took the next position in the ranking, distantly followed by Rwanda (X tons), Egypt (X tons) and Tanzania (X tons). All these countries together took approx. 36% share of total exports. Cote d'Ivoire (X tons) held a relatively small share of total exports.

From 2012 to 2022, the most notable rate of growth in terms of shipments, amongst the leading exporting countries, was attained by Rwanda (with a CAGR of +38.1%), while the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

In value terms, South Africa ($X), Tunisia ($X) and Egypt ($X) constituted the countries with the highest levels of exports in 2022, together comprising 77% of total exports. Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Cote d'Ivoire lagged somewhat behind, together accounting for a further 17%.

In terms of the main exporting countries, Rwanda, with a CAGR of +36.7%, recorded the highest rates of growth with regard to the value of exports, over the period under review, while shipments for the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Export Prices by Country

The export price in Africa stood at $X per ton in 2022, shrinking by -9.1% against the previous year. Export price indicated slight growth from 2012 to 2022: its price increased at an average annual rate of +1.3% over the last decade. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. Based on 2022 figures, stationery export price increased by +55.9% against 2016 indices. The growth pace was the most rapid in 2020 an increase of 29%. Over the period under review, the export prices attained the peak figure at $X per ton in 2021, and then fell in the following year.

Prices varied noticeably by country of origin: amid the top suppliers, the country with the highest price was Egypt ($X per ton), while Kenya ($X per ton) was amongst the lowest.

From 2012 to 2022, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Egypt (+11.5%), while the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Stationery Imports

Imports in Africa

Stationery imports rose markedly to X tons in 2022, growing by 8.5% against 2021. The total import volume increased at an average annual rate of +2.4% over the period from 2012 to 2022; the trend pattern remained relatively stable, with somewhat noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2021 with an increase of 19%. The volume of import peaked at X tons in 2019; however, from 2020 to 2022, imports remained at a lower figure.

In value terms, stationery imports expanded markedly to $X in 2022. Over the period under review, imports showed a mild increase. The growth pace was the most rapid in 2021 with an increase of 19%. Over the period under review, imports reached the maximum at $X in 2019; however, from 2020 to 2022, imports failed to regain momentum.

Imports by Country

In 2022, Nigeria (X tons), distantly followed by Ethiopia (X tons), Democratic Republic of the Congo (X tons), Cameroon (X tons), Rwanda (X tons) and Togo (X tons) represented the largest importers of articles of stationery, together committing 41% of total imports. The following importers - Tanzania (X tons), Burkina Faso (X tons), Mozambique (X tons), Madagascar (X tons), Djibouti (X tons), Congo (X tons) and Libya (X tons) - together made up 25% of total imports.

Nigeria was also the fastest-growing in terms of the articles of stationery imports, with a CAGR of +32.3% from 2012 to 2022. At the same time, Rwanda (+12.8%), Mozambique (+10.5%), Cameroon (+9.7%), Libya (+8.4%), Congo (+7.6%), Togo (+5.6%), Democratic Republic of the Congo (+5.2%) and Madagascar (+4.5%) displayed positive paces of growth. Ethiopia, Burkina Faso and Tanzania experienced a relatively flat trend pattern. By contrast, Djibouti (-3.1%) illustrated a downward trend over the same period. Nigeria (+13 p.p.), Rwanda (+3 p.p.), Cameroon (+2.6 p.p.) and Mozambique (+2.1 p.p.) significantly strengthened its position in terms of the total imports, while Djibouti saw its share reduced by -2.1% from 2012 to 2022, respectively. The shares of the other countries remained relatively stable throughout the analyzed period.

In value terms, Nigeria ($X) constitutes the largest market for imported articles of stationery in Africa, comprising 15% of total imports. The second position in the ranking was taken by Cameroon ($X), with a 5.9% share of total imports. It was followed by Ethiopia, with a 5.7% share.

In Nigeria, stationery imports increased at an average annual rate of +37.7% over the period from 2012-2022. In the other countries, the average annual rates were as follows: Cameroon (+10.0% per year) and Ethiopia (+0.5% per year).

Import Prices by Country

In 2022, the import price in Africa amounted to $X per ton, stabilizing at the previous year. In general, the import price saw a slight contraction. The pace of growth appeared the most rapid in 2018 an increase of 4% against the previous year. The level of import peaked at $X per ton in 2012; however, from 2013 to 2022, import prices remained at a lower figure.

Prices varied noticeably by country of destination: amid the top importers, the country with the highest price was Djibouti ($X per ton), while Togo ($X per ton) was amongst the lowest.

From 2012 to 2022, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Nigeria (+4.1%), while the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Source: IndexBox Platform

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