Cotton exports in the WAEMU zone reached 856.5 billion in 2020. The figures were published in the "Report on foreign trade of WAEMU for the year 2020" of the Central Bank of the States of West Africa (Bceao).

According to the Bceao, cotton exports fell by 19.9% to stand at 856.5 billion in 2020, or 4.8% of total foreign sales of goods. The main countries of the Union exporting this product are Benin (42.9%), Côte d'Ivoire (22.1%), Burkina (20.1%), and Mali (8.3%). ). Cotton exports are directed mainly to Asia (77.5%) and Europe (15.8%). Africa's share of export cotton sales stood at 6.5%. This development, underlines the issuing institution, is mainly attributable to the fall in the price of this speculation coupled with a fall in volumes observed mainly in Mali (-56.2%).