Liberia imported 57,673 metric tons of rice worth $28.91mn in July, more than four times the 12,470 tons of July 2025, the Central Bank of Liberia said in its July economic review. Agriculture Minister Alexander Nuetah presented $243mn of rice investment opportunities at a UN Food and Agriculture Organization forum in Rome on October 14, with domestic output meeting only 35% to 40% of demand, as reported by FrontPage Africa.
Analysis: Imports totaled 98,695 tons between May and July, by our calculation, offering a more stable measure than individual monthly cargo arrivals. Rice import spending exceeded $75mn in the first half of the year, according to FrontPage Africa. Importers reportedly supply around 60% to 65% of consumption, so local milling and irrigation projects could eventually reduce import demand if production expands. But no investment commitments from the relevant forum have been announced. The central bank's August trade review, expected in November, may show whether arrivals slowed after July.
Source: Central Bank of Liberia, Research, Policy & Planning Dept, CBL Monthly Economic Review, July 2026 (Vol. 12 No. 7), July 2026 and June 2026 and July 2025 and May 2026; FrontPage Africa (Monrovia), FrontPage Africa, Agriculture Minister at the FAO Hand-in-Hand Investment Forum (October 15, 2026), H1 2026; FrontPage Africa (Monrovia), FrontPage Africa (October 15, 2026), October 2026 and 2026