Côte d’Ivoire: Grand Moulin d’Abidjan Welcomes U.S. Wheat Shipment After 17 Years

Abidjan, September 23, 2025 – The Grand Moulin d’Abidjan (GMA) dock welcomed the Chrysoula S this Tuesday, marking the first arrival in 17 years of a ship from the United States carrying wheat. The vessel unloaded 27,000 tons of American wheat destined for the mill, a milestone in Côte d’Ivoire’s diversification of supply sources, Abidjan.net reported on site.

François Menenteau, Deputy Managing Director of GMA, highlighted the importance of the event. “Today, we are welcoming the Chrysoula S, which is carrying 27,000 tons of American wheat, a first in 17 years. This illustrates the fruitful cooperation between the United States and Côte d’Ivoire,” he stated. Present in the country since 1963, GMA remains the leader in the wheat-flour sector. “We invested $2 million in 2021 in energy production and $10 million in 2022 in storage capacity of 28,000 tons,” he recalled, before announcing: “We will invest more than $80 million in a pasta factory in Bonoua, an animal feed plant, and in the modernization of the port and the mill.”

According to Diarrassouba Tahirou, Secretary General of the Port Community and representative of the Autonomous Port of Abidjan, this arrival reflects the ongoing modernization efforts of the port. “The arrival of this ship fulfills a promise made in December 2024 between the Port’s Director General and Seaboard. It symbolizes the strengthening of trade relations between Côte d’Ivoire and the United States,” he said. Referring to recent infrastructure projects, he emphasized the ambition “to make the Port of Abidjan a hub for maritime trade in West Africa.”

For her part, U.S. Ambassador to Côte d’Ivoire, Jessica Davis Ba, welcomed the return of American wheat to the country. “Today we celebrate the return of American wheat to Côte d’Ivoire after 17 years. 27,000 tons of high-quality wheat have been delivered from Texas, Arkansas, Kansas, and Oklahoma,” she stated. She added: “This supply creates jobs in both the United States and Côte d’Ivoire. U.S. wheat contributes to food security in Côte d’Ivoire and across the region.”

Meanwhile, Tra Bi Emmanuel, Director of Industry at the Ministry of Trade and Industry and representative of the Minister, underscored the strategic importance of this shipment. “This event marks a strategic turning point in Côte d’Ivoire’s diversification of supply sources. In 2024, the country imported 1.5 million tons of wheat, of which 80% came from France. The return of U.S. wheat after 17 years strengthens our resilience in the face of global crises,” he explained. Highlighting the dynamic bilateral trade relations, he added: “Trade between Côte d’Ivoire and the United States rose from 934.4 billion FCFA in 2023 to 1,098.2 billion in 2024, an increase of 18%.”