Citrus fruit market in Eastern Africa

Earlier Report Observations

The citrus fruit market in Eastern Africa showed a general upward trend in volume from 2018 to 2023, increasing from 2.9 million tons to 3.7 million tons. This growth was interrupted by a single-year contraction in 2021, when the market size fell to 3.1 million tons, before resuming its expansion in the following years.

In value terms, the market demonstrated even stronger growth, particularly in 2023 when it reached 1.0 billion USD, a significant jump from 774 million USD the previous year. This indicates a substantial increase in the market's monetary value alongside the physical volume growth over the period.

Domestic production was the primary driver of market volume, rising steadily from 2.9 million tons to 3.7 million tons between 2018 and 2023. Net trade played a relatively minor role, with imports and exports each typically representing a small fraction of the total market size throughout these years.

Production citrus fruit in Eastern Africa

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of citrus fruit, 2017-2020

World map of production of citrus fruit, 2017-2020

Citrus fruit production in Eastern Africa has grown for the third year in a row. In 2020, the region produced 3 257 thousand tonnes, marking a 6.5% increase compared to the previous year. Looking at the period from 2017 to 2020, production rose by 14%, which translates to an average annual growth rate of 4.5%.

Annual dynamics of production in Eastern Africa in kind, 2017-2020, K t

In value, 2017-2020, M $ US

In 2020, the value of citrus fruit production in Eastern Africa was 653.6 million US dollars, down 2.9% from the year before. Over the 2017-2020 period, production value fell by 3.4%, with a compound annual growth rate of -1.2%. The lowest value was recorded in 2018 at 616.6 million US dollars. The sharpest decline occurred in 2018, dropping by 8.9%, while the largest increase was in 2019, rising by 9.1%.

Annual dynamics of production in Eastern Africa in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Exports citrus fruit from Eastern Africa

Exports in kind, t

Eastern Africa exported 56 361 tonnes of citrus fruit in 2020, an increase of 8.5% compared to 2019. The lowest export volume was in 2019 at 51 960 tonnes, while the highest was in 2018 at 61 013 tonnes. The largest decline happened in 2019, falling by 14.8%, and the biggest increase was in 2018, up by 10.4%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Eastern Africa in kind, 2017-2020, t

From 2017 to 2020, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates were key players in Eastern Africa's citrus fruit exports, together accounting for 64.5% of the total volume.

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

World map of product's exports from Eastern Africa in kind, 2017-2020

Exports in value, K $ US

Citrus fruit exports from Eastern Africa have declined for the third consecutive year. In 2020, exports were valued at 11 310 thousand US dollars, a slight decrease of 1.1% from the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, export value dropped by 13.6%, equivalent to an average annual decline of 4.8%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Eastern Africa in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

During 2017-2020, the main markets for Eastern Africa's citrus fruit exports in value terms were South Africa, with 58.2% of the total, the United Arab Emirates at 2.9%, and Yemen at 0.9%. Together, these three countries represented 61.9% of all export flows.

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

World map of product's exports from Eastern Africa in value, 2017-2020

Imports citrus fruit to Eastern Africa

Imports in kind, t

Citrus fruit imports into Eastern Africa have fallen for the second year in a row. In 2020, imports totaled 33 560 tonnes, a slight decrease of 0.8% year-on-year. Over the 2017-2020 period, import volume declined by 6.8%, averaging a 2.3% annual drop. The highest import volume was in 2018 at 41 032 tonnes. The largest decline occurred in 2019, down by 17.5%, while the biggest increase was in 2018, rising by 13.9%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Eastern Africa in kind, 2017-2020, t

Between 2017 and 2020, Eastern Africa imported citrus fruit from numerous countries. Even the top three sources—South Africa, Egypt, and Pakistan—combined for only 46.5% of the total import volume.

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

World map of product's imports to Eastern Africa in kind, 2017-2020

Imports in value, K $ US

In 2020, citrus fruit imports into Eastern Africa were valued at 29 353 thousand US dollars, up 2.6% from the previous year. From 2017 to 2020, import value decreased by 2.8%, with an average annual decline of 0.9%. The lowest value was in 2019 at 28 604 thousand US dollars, and the highest was in 2018 at 32 083 thousand US dollars. The sharpest drop was in 2019, falling by 10.8%, while the largest rise was in 2018, increasing by 6.2%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Eastern Africa in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Over the 2017-2020 period, the primary sources for Eastern Africa's citrus fruit imports in value terms were South Africa, accounting for 39.1%, Egypt at 29.6%, and the United Arab Emirates at 3.2%. Together, these three countries made up 71.9% of total import flows.

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

World map of product's imports to Eastern Africa in value, 2017-2020