ECOWAS: Plain Postcard Market 2025

Plain Postcard Market Size in ECOWAS

The ECOWAS plain postcard market amounted to $X in 2021, picking up by 1.9% against the previous year. Over the period under review, consumption, however, showed a strong increase. The level of consumption peaked at $X in 2017; however, from 2018 to 2021, consumption remained at a lower figure.

Plain Postcard Production in ECOWAS

In value terms, plain postcard production contracted to $X in 2021 estimated in export price. In general, production, however, saw resilient growth. The growth pace was the most rapid in 2016 when the production volume increased by 73% against the previous year. Over the period under review, production attained the maximum level at $X in 2017; however, from 2018 to 2021, production stood at a somewhat lower figure.

Plain Postcard Exports

Exports in ECOWAS

For the fourth consecutive year, ECOWAS recorded decline in shipments abroad of letter cards, plain postcards and correspondence cards, which decreased by -34.4% to X kg in 2021. Overall, exports recorded a abrupt descent. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2017 when exports increased by 402% against the previous year. As a result, the exports attained the peak of X tons. From 2018 to 2021, the growth of the exports failed to regain momentum.

In value terms, plain postcard exports reduced to $X in 2021. Over the period under review, exports showed a abrupt slump. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2014 with an increase of 280%. Over the period under review, the exports attained the maximum at $X in 2017; however, from 2018 to 2021, the exports failed to regain momentum.

Exports by Country

Nigeria (X kg) and Ghana (X kg) dominates exports structure, together making up 98% of total exports. Cabo Verde (X kg) took a relatively small share of total exports.

From 2012 to 2021, the biggest increases were recorded for Nigeria (with a CAGR of +4.4%), while shipments for the other leaders experienced a decline in the exports figures.

In value terms, Nigeria ($X) remains the largest plain postcard supplier in ECOWAS, comprising 66% of total exports. The second position in the ranking was taken by Ghana ($X), with a 24% share of total exports.

In Nigeria, plain postcard exports increased at an average annual rate of +9.0% over the period from 2012-2021. The remaining exporting countries recorded the following average annual rates of exports growth: Ghana (-27.6% per year) and Cabo Verde (-7.7% per year).

Export Prices by Country

In 2021, the export price in ECOWAS amounted to $X per ton, rising by 31% against the previous year. Overall, the export price, however, showed a noticeable reduction. The level of export peaked at $X per ton in 2015; however, from 2016 to 2021, the export prices failed to regain momentum.

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

From 2012 to 2021, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Cabo Verde (+25.5%), while the other leaders experienced mixed trends in the export price figures.

Plain Postcard Imports

Imports in ECOWAS

After three years of decline, purchases abroad of letter cards, plain postcards and correspondence cards increased by 33% to X tons in 2021. Over the period under review, imports, however, saw a precipitous decline. The growth pace was the most rapid in 2016 when imports increased by 126%. Over the period under review, imports reached the maximum at X tons in 2017; however, from 2018 to 2021, imports stood at a somewhat lower figure.

In value terms, plain postcard imports surged to $X in 2021. Overall, imports, however, showed a abrupt curtailment. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2016 when imports increased by 71%. The level of import peaked at $X in 2014; however, from 2015 to 2021, imports failed to regain momentum.

Imports by Country

Nigeria was the main importing country with an import of about X tons, which resulted at 51% of total imports. It was distantly followed by Sierra Leone (X tons), Gambia (X tons), Guinea (X tons) and Cote d'Ivoire (X tons), together generating a 34% share of total imports. Niger (X tons) and Senegal (X tons) took a minor share of total imports.

Imports into Nigeria decreased at an average annual rate of -29.4% from 2012 to 2021. At the same time, Sierra Leone (+55.9%), Niger (+23.6%), Guinea (+23.0%), Senegal (+6.5%) and Gambia (+4.3%) displayed positive paces of growth. Moreover, Sierra Leone emerged as the fastest-growing importer imported in ECOWAS, with a CAGR of +55.9% from 2012-2021. By contrast, Cote d'Ivoire (-5.8%) illustrated a downward trend over the same period. While the share of Sierra Leone (+11 p.p.), Gambia (+8.7 p.p.), Guinea (+6.8 p.p.), Cote d'Ivoire (+5.4 p.p.), Niger (+3.5 p.p.) and Senegal (+2.8 p.p.) increased significantly in terms of the total imports from 2012-2021, the share of Nigeria (-45.6 p.p.) displayed negative dynamics.

In value terms, Nigeria ($X), Gambia ($X) and Sierra Leone ($X) constituted the countries with the highest levels of imports in 2021, with a combined 54% share of total imports.

Sierra Leone, with a CAGR of +47.2%, recorded the highest rates of growth with regard to the value of imports, in terms of the main importing countries over the period under review, while purchases for the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Import Prices by Country

In 2021, the import price in ECOWAS amounted to $X per ton, reducing by -8.3% against the previous year. In general, the import price, however, posted a significant expansion. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2020 when the import price increased by 174%. As a result, import price reached the peak level of $X per ton, and then reduced in the following year.

Prices varied noticeably by country of destination: amid the top importers, the country with the highest price was Cote d'Ivoire ($X per ton), while Nigeria ($X per ton) was amongst the lowest.

From 2012 to 2021, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Nigeria (+15.8%), while the other leaders experienced mixed trends in the import price figures.

Source: IndexBox Platform