Côte d'Ivoire leads African nations as the primary importer of tobacco leaf, accounting for 19.20 per cent of total imports across the continent in 2024.
Egypt follows closely as the second-largest destination, claiming a 16.35 per cent share of total African imports.
Together, West and North African countries dominate the top tier of the market. Nigeria ranks third overall, receiving 10.88 per cent of continental leaf shipments.
South Africa accounts for 9.03 per cent, making it the largest importer in the southern region, while Zimbabwe holds a 6.15 per cent share.
Further north, Morocco and Tunisia represent 5.36 per cent and 5.12 per cent of imports, respectively. Equatorial Guinea sits just behind with 5.02 per cent of the continental total. Malawi records 4.64 per cent, followed by Kenya, which rounds out the list of major importers at 4.00 per cent.
These trade figures reflect the gross total sum of all reported exports and imports from individual countries within the region. The continental trade dynamics were published by the World Health Organization in a report released on August 31, 2026.
