Burkina Faso Fully Nationalises Its Cotton Industry Worth Over a Billion Dollars
The government of Burkina Faso, led by President Captain Ibrahim Traoré, has fully nationalised Sofitex, the country’s largest cotton producer, after approving the purchase of the remaining private shareholders’ stakes.
Burkina Faso is the fifth-largest cotton producer in Africa, behind Mali, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, and Cameroon.
The government said it spent around 30 billion CFA francs (approximately $50 million) to acquire the remaining shares and bring Sofitex under complete government ownership.
Sofitex is valued at roughly $607 million (338 billion CFA francs).
President Traoré said he wants to increase state control over strategic sectors, including agriculture and mining, while ensuring that more revenue generated from national resources remains within the country.
Burkina Faso earns over $300 million annually from its cotton production, a figure that could double now that the industry has become state-owned.
For the 2025–2026 season, Burkina Faso’s seed cotton production is estimated at 336,812 metric tons, marking a 15% year-on-year increase following a previous decline.
According to the government, the key reasons behind the nationalisation of the country’s largest cotton producer were rising debt, declining cotton production, and operational inefficiencies.
Cotton is one of Burkina Faso’s most important export commodities and a major source of income for rural farmers.
The cotton industry in Burkina Faso is largely controlled by local farmers, who planted approximately 391,407 hectares for the 2025–2026 harvest.
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