Market research

Melons market in Eastern Africa

Release date: Mar 28, 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 2023, the melon market in Eastern Africa expanded gradually, with volume rising from 55 438 metric tons to 56 842 metric tons. Initial growth occurred despite industry reports of stringent clearance processes and high energy costs that hampered competitiveness. The launch of a strategic plan in 2019 by the Fresh Produce Consortium aimed to address these challenges and promote growth in the fresh produce sector.

The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 caused severe disruptions to flower exports and logistics in Kenya, but the melon market showed resilience with a slight volume increase. A minor contraction in 2021 represented market stabilization, followed by growth in 2022 as the adoption of irrigation technologies among smallholder farmers in Machakos County improved production capacity for fresh produce.

Market volume reached its peak in 2023, supported by consistent domestic output. Throughout the period, ongoing advocacy by industry groups for policy reviews to reduce trade barriers and multiple taxations provided a backdrop for market development.

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. Exports
1. 6.1. Exports (Direct Data*)
  1. 6.1.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 6.1.2. Exports in kind, t
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from British Indian Ocean Territory in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from British Indian Ocean Territory by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 6.1.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.1.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from British Indian Ocean Territory in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from British Indian Ocean Territory by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 6.1.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.1.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 6.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from British Indian Ocean Territory, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from British Indian Ocean Territory by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
2. 6.2. Exports (Mirror Data)
  1. 6.2.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 6.2.2. Exports in kind, t
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from British Indian Ocean Territory in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from British Indian Ocean Territory by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 6.2.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.2.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from British Indian Ocean Territory in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from British Indian Ocean Territory by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 6.2.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.2.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 6.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from British Indian Ocean Territory, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from British Indian Ocean Territory by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
7. Imports
1. 7.1. Imports (Direct Data*)
  1. 7.1.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 7.1.2. Imports in kind, t
    1. 7.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to British Indian Ocean Territory in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to British Indian Ocean Territory by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 7.1.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.1.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to British Indian Ocean Territory in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to British Indian Ocean Territory by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 7.1.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.1.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 7.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to British Indian Ocean Territory, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to British Indian Ocean Territory by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
2. 7.2. Imports (Mirror Data)
  1. 7.2.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 7.2.2. Imports in kind, t
    1. 7.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to British Indian Ocean Territory in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to British Indian Ocean Territory by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 7.2.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.2.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to British Indian Ocean Territory in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to British Indian Ocean Territory by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 7.2.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.2.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 7.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to British Indian Ocean Territory, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to 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 melons in Eastern Africa

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Top producers of melons, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of melons, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Eastern Africa's melon production has grown for the third year in a row. In 2020, the region produced 56 641 tonnes of melons, marking a 1.3% increase from the previous year. From 2017 to 2020, production rose by 4.3%, which translates to an average annual growth rate of 1.4%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	1.6%	1.4%	1.3%	1.4%

Source: SHEV.io

Exports melons from Eastern Africa

Exports in kind, t

The export market for melons from Eastern Africa experienced significant fluctuations during this period. The lowest export volume was recorded in 2020 at 13.4 tonnes, while the highest was in 2018 at 460.5 tonnes, showing a 34-fold difference. In 2020, exports dropped by 16.1% compared to the previous year. The largest decline occurred in 2019 with a 96.5% decrease, and the largest increase was in 2018 with a 111.7% rise.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	111.7%	(96.5%)	(16.1%)	(60.5%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, the main destinations for Eastern Africa's melon exports were the United Arab Emirates, accounting for 30.7% of the volume, the United Kingdom with 11.5%, and the Netherlands at 10.7%. Together, these three countries represented 52.9% 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 melon export value has declined for the third consecutive year. In 2020, exports totaled 16 000 US dollars, a 9.0% decrease from the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, export value fell by 94.1%, with a compound annual growth rate of -61.0%.

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	(72.2%)	(76.5%)	(9.0%)	(61.0%)

Source: SHEV.io

Between 2017 and 2020, the largest buyers of melons from Eastern Africa in value terms were the United Arab Emirates, making up 55.8% of exports, the Netherlands at 6.1%, and the United Kingdom with 2.2%. Combined, these three markets accounted for 64.1% 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 melons to Eastern Africa

Imports in kind, t

Eastern Africa's melon imports dropped to approximately 346.5 tonnes in 2020, a 57.5% decrease from 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, imports fell by 60.4%, with a compound annual growth rate of -26.6%. The largest increase was recorded in 2019 at 11.6%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(16.5%)	11.6%	(57.5%)	(26.6%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, the primary sources of melon imports to Eastern Africa were South Africa, contributing 54.2% of the volume, Egypt with 17.7%, and Spain at 5.6%. Together, these three countries supplied 77.5% of total import flows.

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

After two years of growth, melon imports to Eastern Africa declined. In 2020, imports amounted to 794 000 US dollars, a 54.2% drop from the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, import value decreased by 50.6%, with a compound annual growth rate of -20.9%. The highest value was recorded in 2019 at 1 735 000 US dollars, with the largest increase that year at 5.3%.

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	2.5%	5.3%	(54.2%)	(20.9%)

Source: SHEV.io

Between 2017 and 2020, the largest suppliers of melons to Eastern Africa in value terms were South Africa, accounting for 57.8% of imports, Egypt with 16.1%, and Australia at 5.9%. These three countries together represented 79.8% 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