LAGOS, NIGERIA – USA Rice exhibited at the recent Food & Beverage West Africa trade show, hosting a booth offering information on the U.S. rice industry and samples of a variety of rice types over the course of the three-day show.
Food & Beverage West Africa (FABWA) bills itself as the leading food and beverage trade show across the African continent. The exhibition takes place in Nigeria, which has Africa’s largest economy and its largest population at 230 million people. The 2025 showcase hosted more than 350 exhibitors from across the world and welcomed more than 6,000 trade professionals.
USA Rice exhibited here, the first time ever at a trade show on the African continent, and FABWA provided a great opportunity to collect information on demand in the region, major players, and expectations of local buyers. The USA Rice booth was located in the USA Pavilion and saw more than 150 visitors including rice traders from Nigeria, Cameroon, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Ghana, and more. Trade leads were collected and will be shared with USA Rice members for follow up.
“USA Rice is actively working to expand the industry’s market footprint across the African continent, and the Food & Beverage West Africa trade show was a step in that direction,” said Eszter Somogyi, USA Rice director for Europe, Middle East, and Africa. “Even though the African markets in general tend to be price sensitive, African countries represent the fastest growing rice consumption trends in the world. This strong demand provides opportunities to explore markets for different U.S. rice types. We will be conducting more activities targeting African importers throughout the year and will build off the contacts that were made during this key trade show to strengthen trade relationships and expand opportunities.”