Cassava market in Papua New Guinea

Earlier Report Observations

The cassava market in Papua New Guinea saw a gradual increase in volume between 2018 and 2023, with production and market size rising from 156 thousand tons to 162 thousand tons. This consistent expansion was driven entirely by domestic output, as import and export activities remained negligible throughout the period.

Growth was steady each year, peaking in 2021 with an addition of 1.9 thousand tons. The following year, 2022, experienced only a marginal rise of 0.3 thousand tons, reflecting a phase of market stabilization rather than decline. Over the entire six-year span, the total market volume expanded by 3.7%.

Underpinning this trend, the sector reported stable harvested area and yield per hectare, indicating that production gains were achieved without significant expansion of cultivated land. The market remained reliant on domestic cultivation, with no major regulatory changes or new market entrants reported that altered the fundamental supply structure.

Production cassava in Papua New Guinea

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of cassava, 2017-2020

World map of production of cassava, 2017-2020

Papua New Guinea's cassava production has grown for three consecutive years. In 2020, the country produced 158.6 thousand tons of cassava, marking a 0.8% increase from the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, production rose by 2.7%, with an average annual growth rate of 0.9%.

Annual dynamics of production in Papua New Guinea in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Exports cassava from Papua New Guinea

Exports in kind, kg

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Papua New Guinea in kind, 2017-2020, kg

From 2017 to 2020, Australia was the primary destination for Papua New Guinea's cassava exports, consistently accounting for 100.0% of total exports in volume.

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

World map of product's exports from Papua New Guinea in kind, 2017-2020

Exports in value, $ US

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Papua New Guinea in value, 2017-2020, $ US

During the 2017-2020 period, Papua New Guinea's cassava exports in value terms were almost entirely directed to Australia, which represented 100.0% of total export flows.

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

World map of product's exports from Papua New Guinea in value, 2017-2020

Imports cassava to Papua New Guinea

Imports in kind, kg

The market displayed significant volatility during this period. Imports reached their lowest point in 2018 at 15 kg, then surged to a peak of 96 000 kg in 2020, representing a 6 400-fold increase. The 2020 volume marked an abrupt year-on-year gain of 74,105.8%. The largest decline occurred in 2018, with a drop of 87.6%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Papua New Guinea in kind, 2017-2020, kg

From 2017 to 2020, Indonesia was the nearly exclusive source of cassava imports to Papua New Guinea in volume terms, accounting for 99.9% of total flows.

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

World map of product's imports to Papua New Guinea in kind, 2017-2020

Imports in value, $ US

Market behavior was characterized by volatility during these years. Imports hit their lowest point in 2018 at 29 US dollars, then peaked in 2017, with a 60-fold difference between these years. In 2020, cassava imports to Papua New Guinea totaled 727 US dollars, reflecting a 119.2% increase from the previous year. The largest decline was recorded in 2018 at 98.3%, while the largest increase occurred in 2019, rising by 1,057.1%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Papua New Guinea in value, 2017-2020, $ US

Throughout 2017-2020, two key markets—Indonesia and Malaysia—dominated Papua New Guinea's cassava imports in value terms, together representing 99.8% of total flows.

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

World map of product's imports to Papua New Guinea in value, 2017-2020