The four African markets in the Global Cheese Database 2026 consumed more than 960,000 tonnes of cheese in 2025, and Zenith expects that to pass 1 million tonnes by 2030 as consumption grows by around 2% a year. Per capita consumption is around 4 kg, with wide gaps between markets.
Egypt is by far the largest market in the region, a production-led market built on white cheese and processed cheese. Algeria and Morocco are processed-cheese markets that depend on imported ingredient cheese, while South Africa is self-sufficient in cheddar and gouda and exports a share of its output.
The region is close to self-sufficient overall: production slightly exceeds consumption, and imports and exports are both small relative to the home market.
Markets covered: Algeria, Egypt, Morocco, South Africa.
The Zenith Global Cheese Database 2026 covers every market in the region with production, imports, exports and consumption for 39 cheese types, actuals from 2020 to 2025 and forecasts to 2030. Volume data covers totals, broad categories and separately measured cheese types, in tonnes. Consumer retail value covers total cheese only, in local currency and USD; import and export trade values cover HS 0406 total only, in USD. Monetary values are not broken down by individual cheese type or broad category. Retail shelf prices cover total cheese and five broad categories: hard and semi-hard, fresh, mould, processed, and other non-specified cheese, in local currency/kg and USD/kg, not individual prices for all 39 cheese types. Import and export unit prices cover HS 0406 total and available HS subheadings, in USD/kg. Retail value is estimated retail volume multiplied by regular shelf prices, including sales tax. Trade values are customs values, using CIF for imports and FOB for exports. Production is measured as formally manufactured cheese.