Malagasy vanilla achieves remarkable success

Against all odds, vanilla set an export record during the 2023-2024 season, with 4,400 tons of vanilla exported from the Big Island.

Despite facing significant challenges, Madagascar exported 4,400 tons of vanilla during the 2023-2024 season—a record-breaking achievement. This milestone ensures that the country remains one of the world’s leading vanilla exporters, with most exports directed towards the United States (36 % in 2022) and France (26 % in 2022). Over the past seven years, Malagasy vanilla exports have averaged around 2,000 tons per season. However, this year, Malagasy vanilla has experienced remarkable success.

All indicators point towards a continued increase in vanilla prices in the coming years, reinforcing the industry’s stability and profitability. The sector began reorganizing after years of crisis, with support from the Ministry of Industrialization and Trade. The vanilla industry, which had been disrupted for some time by manipulation and tensions leading to price declines, has started to recover. The Ministry of Industrialization and Trade has worked to restore normalization within the industry.

The Minister, Edgard Razafindravahy, emphasized the importance of preserving and supporting small producers. This approach allows them to benefit directly from the fruits of their labor without being subjected to unfavorable prices imposed by intermediaries. This success is also evident in other areas, such as cloves, which have reached record export levels since 2022, and cocoa, whose prices are currently extremely high.