Preliminary data from Mali’s agriculture ministry indicate that the country’s grain production for the 2025/26 season is expected to reach 11.4 million metric tons, up from 11 million tons the previous year, marking a 3.6% increase. The rise is attributed to favorable rainfall, supporting production across major cereal crops, primarily maize and rice, which together account for over 60% of Mali’s output, followed by millet and sorghum.
Mali is West Africa’s second-largest cereals producer and exporter after Nigeria. The agricultural season runs from April to April, with planting occurring between May and June and harvesting from September to October. While the ministry had initially forecast 11.6 million tons, the preliminary figures show a slightly lower but still positive increase in output.
Forecasts for the 2026/27 season are not yet available, but the current data reinforce Mali’s role as a key contributor to regional cereal supply.
