Linseed production refers to the annual agricultural output of linseed (also known as flaxseed), a crop primarily cultivated for its oil-rich seeds and fibre content.
Africa Linseed Production was 94.26 Thousand Tonnes in 2024, down 7.5% on 2023. Africa's linseed production between 2015 and 2024 remained relatively modest compared with other major producing regions, although the continent demonstrated stable production supported primarily by Ethiopia and Egypt.
Africa Linseed Production moved from 106.6 Thousand Tonnes in 2015 to 94.26 Thousand Tonnes in 2024 (−11.6%), an average of −1.4% a year. The series high was 121 Thousand Tonnes in 2018 and the low 62.41 Thousand Tonnes in 2022.
The gap between the series high (2018) and low (2022) is 58.54 Thousand Tonnes. The sharpest single-year move was +63.2% in 2023.
Within Africa, Ethiopia has the highest value in 2024 at 82.00 Thousand Tonnes, 87% of the regional total.
By region
Thousand Tonnes, 2024. Each bar is that region's total.
Full series
Complete annual series with year-on-year change. Values are reported in Thousand Tonnes.
Scroll the table sideways to see all columns.
| Year | Thousand Tonnes | Change vs prior year |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 94.26 | −7.5% |
| 2023 | 101.9 | +63.2% |
| 2022 Trough | 62.41 | −31.1% |
| 2021 | 90.52 | −11.9% |
| 2020 | 102.8 | +0.7% |
| 2019 | 102 | −15.6% |
| 2018Peak | 121 | +19.7% |
| 2017 | 101.1 | +1.1% |
| 2016 | 100.00 | −6.2% |
| 2015 | 106.6 | — |
Data definition
Linseed Production — Linseed production refers to the annual agricultural output of linseed (also known as flaxseed), a crop primarily cultivated for its oil-rich seeds and fibre content. The indicator measures the total quantity of linseed harvested from cultivated areas within a country or region during a specific year. Linseed is an important oilseed crop used in the production of edible oils, industrial oils, animal feed, nutritional products, and various industrial applications such as paints, coatings, and bio-based materials. The production data represents the harvested output volume of linseed and is generally measured in tonnes.
The Linseed Production indicator includes the total harvested quantity of linseed seeds produced through agricultural cultivation activities. It covers production from commercial farms, smallholder farms, and other agricultural operations growing linseed for food, oil extraction, industrial applications, and other uses. The indicator accounts for annual production volumes generated from cultivated linseed areas, including variations caused by changes in planted area, crop yields, farming practices, climatic conditions, and agricultural productivity improvements.
The Linseed Production indicator excludes the production of other oilseed crops such as sunflower, soybean, rapeseed, and sesame, as well as flax fibre production from flax plants cultivated specifically for textile applications. It does not include processed linseed products such as linseed oil, flaxseed meal, supplements, or other downstream products derived from linseed. The indicator also excludes imports, exports, trade volumes, consumption levels, and stock changes, focusing only on the quantity of linseed harvested and produced within agricultural boundaries.
Linseed Production — Linseed production refers to the annual agricultural output of linseed (also known as flaxseed), a crop primarily cultivated for its oil-rich seeds and fibre content. The indicator measures the total quantity of linseed harvested from cultivated areas within a country or region during a specific year. Linseed is an important oilseed crop used in the production of edible oils, industrial oils, animal feed, nutritional products, and various industrial applications such as paints, coatings, and bio-based materials. The production data represents the harvested output volume of linseed and is generally measured in tonnes.
Annual output reflected changing climatic conditions, harvested areas, and agricultural productivity, resulting in moderate year-to-year fluctuations while maintaining an overall consistent production base.
Ethiopia was the leading producer in the region throughout the decade, with annual production generally ranging between 45 thousand and 98 thousand tonnes. Output remained relatively stable during most years, despite a noticeable decline in 2022 before recovering to around 82 thousand tonnes by 2024. The country's established cultivation practices and favourable agro-climatic conditions enabled it to remain the dominant contributor to Africa's linseed industry. Egypt recorded comparatively smaller production volumes, increasing from around 5 thousand tonnes in 2015 to a peak of 20 thousand tonnes in 2018, before fluctuating between 8 and 18 thousand tonnes during the remaining years. These variations reflected changes in cultivation intensity and agricultural conditions.
Production from the remaining African countries contributed significantly to overall regional output, with combined volumes fluctuating between approximately 62 thousand and 121 thousand tonnes during the period. Regional production reached higher levels around 2018, before moderating in subsequent years due to changing environmental and farming conditions. Despite these fluctuations, Africa maintained a steady presence in global linseed production.
Overall, the African linseed sector demonstrated resilience throughout the decade. Continued production in Ethiopia, supported by smaller contributions from Egypt and other producing countries, helped sustain regional output. Improvements in farming practices, seed quality, and agricultural management have contributed to maintaining production levels despite climatic variability. While Africa remains a relatively small producer globally, the region continues to hold potential for future expansion through increased productivity and broader adoption of improved cultivation techniques.
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Linseed production refers to the annual agricultural output of linseed (also known as flaxseed), a crop primarily cultivated for its oil-rich seeds and fibre content. The indicator measures the total quantity of linseed harvested from cultivated areas within a country or region during a specific year. Linseed is an important oilseed crop used in the production of edible oils, industrial oils, animal feed, nutritional products, and various industrial applications such as paints, coatings, and bio-based materials. The production data represents the harvested output volume of linseed and is generally measured in tonnes.
Africa Linseed Production was 94.26 Thousand Tonnes in 2024, down 7.5% on 2023.
Africa Linseed Production moved from 106.6 Thousand Tonnes in 2015 to 94.26 Thousand Tonnes in 2024 (−11.6%), an average of −1.4% a year. The series high was 121 Thousand Tonnes in 2018 and the low 62.41 Thousand Tonnes in 2022.
The highest value was 121 Thousand Tonnes in 2018 and the lowest was 62.41 Thousand Tonnes in 2022.
Included: The Linseed Production indicator includes the total harvested quantity of linseed seeds produced through agricultural cultivation activities. It covers production from commercial farms, smallholder farms, and other agricultural operations growing linseed for food, oil extraction, industrial applications, and other uses. The indicator accounts for annual production volumes generated from cultivated linseed areas, including variations caused by changes in planted area, crop yields, farming practices, climatic conditions, and agricultural productivity improvements. Excluded: The Linseed Production indicator excludes the production of other oilseed crops such as sunflower, soybean, rapeseed, and sesame, as well as flax fibre production from flax plants cultivated specifically for textile applications. It does not include processed linseed products such as linseed oil, flaxseed meal, supplements, or other downstream products derived from linseed. The indicator also excludes imports, exports, trade volumes, consumption levels, and stock changes, focusing only on the quantity of linseed harvested and produced within agricultural boundaries.
The series is sourced from Our World in Data (https://ourworldindata.org/explorers/global-food?tab=table&overlay=download-data&Food=Linseed&Metric=Production&Per+capita=false&country=USA~DEU~FRA~GBR~BRA~ZAF%3BhideControls). It covers 2015–2024 and is reported in Thousand Tonnes.
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