Market research

Cucumbers and gherkins market in Eastern Africa

Release date: Mar 27, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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"Eastern Africa" region includes following countries:

British Indian Ocean Territory

Burundi

Comoros

Mayotte

Ethiopia

Eritrea

French Southern Territories

Djibouti

Kenya

Madagascar

Malawi

Mauritius

Mozambique

Reunion

Rwanda

Seychelles

Somalia

Zimbabwe

South Sudan

Uganda

Tanzania

Zambia

Earlier Report Observations

From 2018 to 2020, the market for cucumbers and gherkins in Eastern Africa expanded rapidly, with volume growing from 60 694 t to 99 681 t. This period of strong growth was followed by a sharp contraction in 2021, when the market fell to 58 907 t. The market then rebounded in 2022, reaching 80 207 t, before stabilizing at 78 229 t in 2023.

The overall production trend closely mirrored the market's movement, indicating the market is primarily supplied by domestic output. The recovery in 2022 brought volumes back near the peak levels seen in 2020, though the market did not sustain further growth into 2023, entering a phase of consolidation.

By 2024, several key trends began shaping the market landscape, including rising consumer demand for organic and conveniently packaged products, a shift towards health-conscious diets, and the adoption of more efficient farming techniques like hydroponics.

Table of content

1. Disclaimer
2. Terms of use of the report
3. Product codes in the statistical classifications used in the report
4. Key Market Indicators and Trends
1. 4.1. Key Market Indicators
  1. 4.1.1. In kind
    1. 4.1.1.1. Production, 2018-2023
    2. 4.1.1.2. Imports, 2018-2024
    3. 4.1.1.3. Exports, 2018-2024
    4. 4.1.1.4. Market size, 2018-2023
2. 4.2. Market Trends and Factors
5. Production
1. 5.1. Production in Eastern Africa
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in Eastern Africa in kind, 2018-2023, t
2. 5.2. Global production by Country, 2018-2023
  1. 5.2.1. Annual dynamics of production by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023, t
  2. 5.2.2. Dynamics of production structure by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023
  3. 5.2.3. Annual dynamics of production by country in kind, 2018-2023, t
  4. 5.2.4. Structure of production by countries in kind, 2018-2023
  5. 5.2.5. Dynamics of peoduction structure by countries in kind, 2018-2023
6. Imports
1. 6.1. Imports (Direct Data*)
  1. 6.1.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 6.1.2. Imports in kind, t
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to British Indian Ocean Territory in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to British Indian Ocean Territory by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 6.1.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.1.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to British Indian Ocean Territory in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to British Indian Ocean Territory by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 6.1.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.1.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 6.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to British Indian Ocean Territory, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to British Indian Ocean Territory by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
2. 6.2. Imports (Mirror Data)
  1. 6.2.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 6.2.2. Imports in kind, t
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to British Indian Ocean Territory in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to British Indian Ocean Territory by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 6.2.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.2.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to British Indian Ocean Territory in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to British Indian Ocean Territory by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 6.2.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.2.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 6.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to British Indian Ocean Territory, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to British Indian Ocean Territory by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
7. Exports
1. 7.1. Exports (Direct Data*)
  1. 7.1.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 7.1.2. Exports in kind, t
    1. 7.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from British Indian Ocean Territory in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from British Indian Ocean Territory by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 7.1.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.1.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from British Indian Ocean Territory in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from British Indian Ocean Territory by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 7.1.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.1.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 7.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from British Indian Ocean Territory, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from British Indian Ocean Territory by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
2. 7.2. Exports (Mirror Data)
  1. 7.2.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 7.2.2. Exports in kind, t
    1. 7.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from British Indian Ocean Territory in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from British Indian Ocean Territory by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 7.2.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.2.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from British Indian Ocean Territory in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from British Indian Ocean Territory by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 7.2.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.2.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 7.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from British Indian Ocean Territory, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from British Indian Ocean Territory by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
8. Trade balance
1. 8.1. Trade balance (Direct Data)
  1. 8.1.1. In kind, t
  2. 8.1.2. In value, K $ US
2. 8.2. Trade balance (Mirror Data)
  1. 8.2.1. In kind, t
  2. 8.2.2. In value, K $ US
9. Top buying and selling countries, 2018-2024
1. 9.1. Direct Data
  1. 9.1.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.1.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers
2. 9.2. Mirror Data
  1. 9.2.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.2.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers

Production cucumbers and gherkins in Eastern Africa

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Top producers of cucumbers and gherkins, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of cucumbers and gherkins, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Cucumber and gherkin production in Eastern Africa has increased for the second year in a row. In 2020, the region produced 99 635 tonnes, which represents a 37.6% rise compared to 2019. Looking at the period from 2017 to 2020, production grew by 52.1%, translating to an average annual growth rate of 15.0%. The lowest production level was recorded in 2018 at 60 597 tonnes, which also saw the largest decline of 7.5%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(7.5%)	19.5%	37.6%	15.0%

Source: SHEV.io

Exports cucumbers and gherkins from Eastern Africa

Exports in kind, t

Cucumber and gherkin exports from Eastern Africa have declined for the third consecutive year. In 2020, export volume totaled 36.1 tonnes, down by 3.0% from 2019. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, exports fell by 62.1%, with an average annual decrease of 27.6%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(45.0%)	(29.0%)	(3.0%)	(27.6%)

Source: SHEV.io

Between 2017 and 2020, the largest shares of exports in volume terms came from Belarus (6.6%), Hong Kong (3.7%), and Bunkers (0.8%). Together, these three accounted for 11.1% of total export flows.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, K $ US

Eastern Africa's cucumber and gherkin exports in value terms reached 62.2 thousand US dollars in 2020, a 36.6% drop compared to the previous year. From 2017 to 2020, exports decreased by 60.6%, averaging an annual decline of 26.7%. The largest decrease occurred in 2018 at 42.6%, while 2019 saw the only increase of 8.4%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(42.6%)	8.4%	(36.6%)	(26.7%)

Source: SHEV.io

During the 2017-2020 period, the key markets for exports in value terms were Hong Kong (39.6%), Belarus (12.5%), and Sri Lanka (2.2%). Combined, these three destinations made up 54.3% of total export value.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports cucumbers and gherkins to Eastern Africa

Imports in kind, t

Cucumber and gherkin imports into Eastern Africa have fallen for the third year in a row. In 2020, the region imported 82.5 tonnes, a sharp decrease of 41.2% from 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, imports dropped by 64.3%, with a compound annual growth rate of -29.1%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(35.1%)	(6.6%)	(41.2%)	(29.1%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, the supplier base for cucumbers and gherkins to Eastern Africa was diverse. South Africa (41.1%), Egypt (1.8%), and the United Arab Emirates (1.6%) were the top contributors, together accounting for 44.5% of total import volume, while numerous other countries held smaller but notable shares.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, K $ US

Imports of cucumbers and gherkins into Eastern Africa in value terms have declined for the third consecutive year. In 2020, imports stood at 166.9 thousand US dollars, marking a 39.3% fall compared to 2019. Between 2017 and 2020, imports decreased by 49.8%, with an average annual rate of decline of 20.5%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(16.2%)	(1.4%)	(39.3%)	(20.5%)

Source: SHEV.io

Throughout 2017-2020, the core sources for imports in value terms were South Africa (47.6%), Spain (10.3%), and the Netherlands (9.7%). Together, these three countries represented 67.6% of total import value.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io