Frozen potatoes market in Eastern Africa

Earlier Report Observations

From 2018 to 2022, frozen potato production in Rwanda grew steadily from 97.0 thousand tonnes to 121.4 thousand tonnes. This expansion was primarily driven by the launch of the Fourth Strategic Plan for Agricultural Transformation in 2018, which focused on improving productivity and market systems. The introduction of new climate-adapted potato varieties with higher yields and shorter cycles in 2020 provided a further boost, while post-harvest loss reduction initiatives in 2021 and continued government efforts to stabilize prices and enhance the processing value chain in 2022 sustained the upward trend.

In 2023, production contracted to 115.4 thousand tonnes, leading to a corresponding decrease in overall market volume. During this same year, the high-yielding Cyerekezo potato variety was introduced in the Rwandan highlands, reportedly doubling farmers' usual yields. Partnerships between the government, research institutions, and seed companies were also strengthened to improve seed quality and support the sector, although these developments coincided with the annual production decline.

Production frozen potatoes in Eastern Africa

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of frozen potatoes, 2017-2020

World map of production of frozen potatoes, 2017-2020

Frozen potato production in Eastern Africa has increased for the second consecutive year. In 2020, the region produced 105.5 K t of frozen potatoes, marking a 5.1% rise compared to 2019. Production reached its lowest point in 2018 at 97.0 K t, which represented the largest decline of 5.9% during the period. Overall, between 2017 and 2020, production grew by 2.4%, equivalent to an annualized rate of 0.8%.

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

In value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Frozen potato production in Eastern Africa has increased for the second consecutive year in value terms. In 2020, output was valued at 96.7 M $ US, showing a slight improvement of 0.9% compared to 2019. The lowest value was recorded in 2018 at 93.2 M $ US, which saw the largest decline of 13.2%. In contrast, 2019 experienced the largest increase of 2.9%. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, production value decreased by 9.9%, translating to an annualized rate of decline of 3.4%.

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

Exports frozen potatoes from Eastern Africa

Exports in kind, t

The market exhibited an unstable trend throughout the timeframe. Exported frozen potato volumes from Eastern Africa reached their lowest point in 2018 at 252 t, which represented the largest decline of 72.7%. In 2019, volumes peaked at 1 528 t, marking the largest increase of 506.5%. By 2020, exports had dropped to 468 t, showing an intense decrease of 69.4% year-over-year. The peak-to-trough ratio between 2019 and 2018 was 6.1 times.

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

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

Volatility characterized the market behavior during these years. Frozen potato exports from Eastern Africa reached their lowest value in 2018 at 242 K $ US, which saw the largest decline of 74.8%. In 2019, exports peaked at 1 459 K $ US, representing the largest increase of 503.1%. By 2020, exports had fallen to 429 K $ US, showing a steep drop of 70.6% compared to the previous year. The difference between the peak in 2019 and trough in 2018 was 6 times.

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

Throughout the period from 2017 to 2020, Liberia held the largest share in export value terms, accounting for 1.6% of total 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 frozen potatoes to Eastern Africa

Imports in kind, t

After a two-year gain, Eastern Africa's frozen potato import volume declined. Imports reached their maximum in 2019 at 5 271 t, which saw the largest increase of 20.1% in 2018. By 2020, imports had fallen to approximately 1 978 t, constituting a sharp decline of 62.5% from a year earlier. Overall, between 2017 and 2020, imports decreased by 50%, equating to an annualized rate of decline of 20.6%.

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

Over the period from 2017 to 2020, South Africa (38.1% of imports in kind), the Democratic Republic of the Congo (7.2% of imports in kind), and the Netherlands (6.5% of imports in kind) consistently occupied leading positions in the country structure of imports in kind. Together, they accounted for 51.8% of total flows.

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

Volatility characterized the market behavior during these years. Frozen potato imports into Eastern Africa saw the largest increase in 2019 at 15.4%. By 2020, import volume was recorded at 2 240 K $ US, down by 55.4% compared with 2019. The span from 2017 to 2020 exhibited a peak-to-trough amplitude of 3.8 times.

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

Over the period from 2017 to 2020, South Africa was the dominant destination for imports in value terms of frozen potatoes to Eastern Africa, accounting for 74.2% of total flows. The remaining share was distributed among a number of smaller markets.

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

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