Nigeria's Cassava Sweetener Demand to Hit 2.15m MT by 2026

A report by the Nigerian Cassava Investment (NCI) indicates that Nigeria's demand for cassava-based sweeteners is expected to reach approximately 2.15 million metric tons by 2026. Despite the country's substantial demand for sweeteners, local production capacity remains significantly low at 53,000 metric tons, fulfilling only about 2.5% of national demand, necessitating bulk imports.

The report highlights the potential for local cassava-based industries to produce sorbitol, a widely used sweetener in pharmaceuticals, oral care products, and food processing. Nigeria, being the world's largest cassava producer, has a clear opportunity to meet domestic demand across multiple industries.

In 2023, Nigeria imported 7,700 metric tons of sorbitol valued at approximately $6.1 million, underscoring reliance on foreign suppliers. Psaltri International has taken steps to address this supply gap by commissioning Nigeria's first cassava-based sorbitol plant in Iseyin, Oyo State, in August 2022, with a production capacity of 25 tons per day.