Alliaceous vegetables market in Sao Tome and Principe

Earlier Report Observations

From 2018 to 2021, the market for alliaceous vegetables in Sao Tome and Principe expanded from 1 136 t to 1 328 t. This growth was primarily driven by increasing domestic demand, including a rising consumer preference for organic vegetables and the population's high frequency of vegetable consumption—many residents eat vegetables at least twice daily. To meet this demand, imports rose substantially, while domestic production remained stable at around 360 t per year. The entry into production of new fruit and vegetable plantations in 2020 also contributed to renewed activity in the agricultural sector.

After peaking in 2021, the market volume contracted to 1 088 t in 2022 and further to 968 t in 2023. Domestic production held steady, and the decline was due to a significant reduction in import volumes during these years.

Production alliaceous vegetables in Sao Tome and Principe

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Top producers of alliaceous vegetables, 2017-2020

World map of production of alliaceous vegetables, 2017-2020

Sao Tome and Principe's production of alliaceous vegetables declined after two years of growth. In 2019, production reached its peak at 361.5 tonnes, but in 2020 it remained stable at 359.7 tonnes, showing no significant change from the previous year. The largest annual increase occurred in 2018, when production rose by 2.3%.

Annual dynamics of production in Sao Tome and Principe in kind, 2017-2020, t

Exports alliaceous vegetables from Sao Tome and Principe

According to industry reports, Sao Tome and Principe did not export any alliaceous vegetables between 2017 and 2020.

Imports alliaceous vegetables to Sao Tome and Principe

Imports in kind, t

Sao Tome and Principe's imports of alliaceous vegetables increased for the second consecutive year. In 2018, imports hit their lowest point at 774.7 tonnes, declining by 2.1% from the previous year. By 2020, imports had risen to 921.7 tonnes, marking a substantial 16.8% increase compared to 2019. Over the entire 2017-2020 period, imports grew by 16.5%, with an average annual growth rate of 5.2%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Sao Tome and Principe in kind, 2017-2020, t

From 2017 to 2020, the Netherlands, Portugal, and Belgium were the main suppliers of alliaceous vegetables to Sao Tome and Principe. The Netherlands accounted for 43.1% of imports by volume, Portugal for 22.0%, and Belgium for 17.4%. Together, these three countries represented 82.6% of total imports in kind.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Sao Tome and Principe in kind, 2017-2020

Imports in value, K $ US

In 2018, the value of alliaceous vegetables imports to Sao Tome and Principe fell to its lowest point at 495.7 thousand US dollars, a sharp decline of 19.2% from the previous year. However, in 2019, imports rebounded strongly, reaching a peak of 693.0 thousand US dollars, which represented a significant 39.8% increase. By 2020, imports had decreased slightly to 651.8 thousand US dollars, showing a controlled drop of 6.0% compared to 2019. Overall, between 2017 and 2020, import values increased by 6.3%, with an average annual growth rate of 2.1%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Sao Tome and Principe in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Between 2017 and 2020, the Netherlands, Portugal, and China were the three principal markets supplying alliaceous vegetables to Sao Tome and Principe in value terms. Together, they accounted for 84.0% of total imports by value.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Sao Tome and Principe in value, 2017-2020