Benin is moving to increase its domestic cotton-processing capacity from 40,000 tonnes to 140,000 tonnes as part of a broader strategy to transform locally grown cotton into higher-value textile and finished products.
The ambition was discussed during a recent visit to Cotonou by Dr George Elombi, President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank).
During the mission, Elombi met Beninese President Romuald Wadagni and visited the Glo-Djigbé Industrial Zone (GDIZ), where local cotton is being converted into yarn, fabrics, towels, home textiles and finished products for African and international markets.
The proposed capacity increase would allow Benin to retain more value from its cotton production, create industrial employment and strengthen its position as an emerging textile manufacturing hub in West Africa.
Bénin Textile expands local cotton value addition
At Bénin Textile SA, also known as Btex, the Afreximbank delegation reviewed the company’s integrated manufacturing operations and plans to expand cotton processing.
Btex operates within GDIZ and transforms Beninese cotton into high-value textile products for domestic, regional and global markets. The company’s majority shareholders include CDC Benin and ARISE Integrated Industrial Platforms.
Benin has historically exported much of its cotton in raw form. The development of an integrated textile ecosystem at GDIZ is intended to shift the country towards local spinning, weaving, finishing and manufacturing.
Benin produced approximately 533,590 tonnes of seed cotton during the 2025–2026 season, according to figures cited by GDIZ. The country is recognised as one of West Africa’s leading cotton producers.
Processing a larger proportion of this raw material domestically could reduce Benin’s dependence on commodity exports while increasing revenue from finished and semi-finished textile products.
OBALÈ home textile brand launched in Cotonou
The Afreximbank mission also included the launch of OBALÈ, Btex’s new premium home linen brand made entirely in Benin using locally grown cotton.
The product portfolio includes bed linen, towels, pillowcases and bathrobes targeting individual consumers, hotels, premium residences and institutional customers.
The launch was accompanied by the inauguration of the brand’s first flagship store on Airport Road in Cotonou.
OBALÈ follows the introduction of SUSU, Btex’s home linen brand serving the more affordable segment. Together, the two brands give the company a broader presence across Benin’s home textile market.
“OBALÈ is far more than the launch of a premium home linen brand. It demonstrates our ability to transform one of the world’s finest cotton fibres into internationally competitive products, entirely manufactured in Benin,” said Milind Bhortakke, Managing Director of Bénin Textile.
Gagan Gupta, Founder and CEO of ARISE IIP, said African countries must move beyond manufacturing and begin creating their own internationally competitive brands.
“Manufacturing allows you to compete on cost, but it is the brand that captures value. That is where African industry must go—from manufacturing to building global brands,” Gupta said.
Afreximbank supports industrialisation in Benin
Afreximbank is working with the Government of Benin and ARISE IIP to support local processing, industrial capacity and value-added manufacturing.
The partnership is intended to demonstrate how African countries can reduce their dependence on raw material exports by developing integrated domestic value chains.
The delegation also visited Africa Ceramics Solutions and SPIRO Benin. At SPIRO, discussions focused on advancing from the deployment of electric motorcycles towards the local manufacturing of batteries and other components.
Elombi highlighted the importance of retaining more stages of production within Africa, both in textiles and in emerging sectors such as electric mobility.
For Benin’s textile industry, increasing cotton-processing capacity to 140,000 tonnes would represent a major step towards building an integrated supply chain extending from locally cultivated cotton to African-designed and African-owned finished products.
The development of GDIZ and the launch of brands such as OBALÈ reflect Benin’s effort to move from exporting raw cotton to manufacturing, branding and marketing finished textiles.
