Capsicum and pimenta fruits market in Sao Tome and Principe

Earlier Report Observations

The market volume for fresh or chilled capsicum and pimenta fruits in Sao Tome and Principe declined from 17 618 kg in 2018 to 15 550 kg in 2023, a reduction of approximately 11.7%. This contraction was primarily due to a steep fall in imports, which dropped from 3 618 kg to 1 370 kg over the same period, while domestic production remained largely stable at around 14 000 kg annually.

After a sharp decrease between 2018 and 2020, the market size stabilized near 16 000 kg for two years before reaching its lowest point of 15 396 kg in 2022. A modest recovery to 15 550 kg occurred in 2023, coinciding with a slight increase in imports from 1 216 kg to 1 370 kg. Exports played a minimal role, with only negligible volumes recorded in 2021 and 2024.

Throughout the period, local production showed remarkable consistency, varying by less than 2% from year to year. This stability in supply from domestic farms contrasted with the volatility in import flows, which ultimately dictated the overall market volume trend.

Production capsicum and pimenta fruits in Sao Tome and Principe

In kind, 2017-2020, kg

Top producers of capsicum and pimenta fruits, 2017-2020

World map of production of capsicum and pimenta fruits, 2017-2020

In 2020, Sao Tome and Principe produced 14 200 kg of capsicum and pimenta fruits, representing a slight year-over-year improvement of 1.4%. However, looking at the broader period from 2017 to 2020, production actually decreased by 5.3%, which translates to an annualized decline of 1.8%. The lowest production level was recorded in 2018 at 14 000 kg, with the largest year-over-year drop occurring that same year at 6.7%.

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

Exports capsicum and pimenta fruits from Sao Tome and Principe

Market research indicates that there were no exports of capsicum and pimenta fruits from Sao Tome and Principe between 2017 and 2020.

Imports capsicum and pimenta fruits to Sao Tome and Principe

Imports in kind, kg

Imports of capsicum and pimenta fruits into Sao Tome and Principe declined for the second consecutive year. In 2019, imports reached their peak at 3 618 kg, but by 2020, they had fallen to 1 819 kg, marking a 38.0% decrease compared to the previous year. Over the entire 2017-2020 period, imports dropped by 42.8%, with a compound annual growth rate of -17.0%. The largest year-over-year increase occurred in 2018 at 13.8%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Sao Tome and Principe in kind, 2017-2020, kg

From 2017 to 2020, the import market for capsicum and pimenta fruits was highly concentrated, with Portugal accounting for 100.0% of total imports by volume.

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, $ US

Sao Tome and Principe's imports of capsicum and pimenta fruits in monetary terms also declined for the second year in a row. In 2019, imports peaked at 11 627 US dollars, but by 2020, they had decreased to 5 694 US dollars, a drop of 47.1% year-over-year. Overall, from 2017 to 2020, imports fell by 44.4%, equivalent to an annualized rate of -17.8%. The largest year-over-year increase was recorded in 2018 at 13.5%.

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

During the 2017-2020 period, Portugal was the dominant source for imports of capsicum and pimenta fruits in value terms, holding a 99.8% share of the total.

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