Market research

Potato market in Africa

Release date: Mar 27, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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"Africa" region includes following countries:

Algeria

Libya

Morocco

Sudan

Western Sahara

Tunisia

Egypt

Cabo Verde

Benin

Gambia

Ghana

Guinea

Côte d'Ivoire

Liberia

Mali

Mauritania

Niger

Nigeria

Guinea-Bissau

Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha

Senegal

Sierra Leone

Togo

Burkina Faso

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

Angola

Cameroon

Central African Republic

Chad

Congo

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Equatorial Guinea

Gabon

Sao Tome and Principe

Botswana

Lesotho

Namibia

South Africa

Eswatini

Earlier Report Observations

From 2018 to 2019, the fresh potato market in Africa expanded from 29 522 thousand tons to 30 487 thousand tons. This growth coincided with the accelerating industrialization and commercialization of agriculture, which scaled up production and distribution networks. The absence of specific regulations on ultra-processed foods, including potatoes, further allowed market development to proceed without restrictive barriers.

Market volume continued to rise to 31 032 thousand tons in 2020, even as conflicts and climate change were reported to disrupt agricultural activities across the continent. A minor correction followed in 2021, with volume dipping slightly to 30 924 thousand tons, indicating a period of stabilization.

Growth resumed in 2022, lifting the market to 31 425 thousand tons. A significant surge then occurred in 2023, with volume jumping 8% to reach 34 152 thousand tons, marking the strongest single-year expansion in the observed period.

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 Africa
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in Africa in kind, 2018-2023, K t
2. 5.2. Global production by Country, 2018-2023
  1. 5.2.1. Annual dynamics of production by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023, K 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, K 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, K t
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Algeria in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Algeria by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 6.1.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.1.3. Imports in value, M $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Algeria in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Algeria by countries, 2018-2024, M $ 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 Algeria, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Algeria 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, K t
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Algeria in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Algeria by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 6.2.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.2.3. Imports in value, M $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Algeria in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Algeria by countries, 2018-2024, M $ 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 Algeria, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Algeria 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, K t
    1. 7.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Algeria in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Algeria by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 7.1.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.1.3. Exports in value, M $ US
    1. 7.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Algeria in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Algeria by countries, 2018-2024, M $ 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 Algeria, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Algeria 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, K t
    1. 7.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Algeria in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Algeria by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 7.2.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.2.3. Exports in value, M $ US
    1. 7.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Algeria in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Algeria by countries, 2018-2024, M $ 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 Algeria, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Algeria by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
8. Trade balance
1. 8.1. Trade balance (Direct Data)
  1. 8.1.1. In kind, K t
  2. 8.1.2. In value, M $ US
2. 8.2. Trade balance (Mirror Data)
  1. 8.2.1. In kind, K t
  2. 8.2.2. In value, M $ 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 potato in Africa

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of potato, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of potato, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Africa's potato production has increased for the third consecutive year. In 2020, the continent produced 31 137 thousand tonnes of potatoes, showing a modest gain of 3.6% compared to the previous year. Looking at the period from 2017 to 2020, production grew by 11.8%, with an average annual growth rate of 3.8%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	5.7%	2.1%	3.6%	3.8%

Source: SHEV.io

In value, 2017-2020, M $ US

After two years of growth, Africa's potato production value declined. In 2020, the output was valued at 12 426 million US dollars, marking a significant drop of 20.4% year-over-year. Over the 2017-2020 period, production value increased by 8.1%, with a compound annual growth rate of 2.6%. The highest value was recorded in 2019 at 15 603 million US dollars, while the largest increase occurred in 2018 with a rise of 27.7%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	27.7%	6.3%	(20.4%)	2.6%

Source: SHEV.io

Exports potato from Africa

Exports in kind, K t

Africa's potato exports have increased for the second consecutive year. In 2020, exports reached 743 thousand tonnes, reflecting a solid advance of 12.4% compared to the previous year. However, over the 2017-2020 period, exports decreased by 14.6%, with an average annual decline of 5.1%. The lowest volume was recorded in 2018 at 566 thousand tonnes, which also saw the largest decline of 34.9%. In contrast, the largest increase occurred in 2019 with a growth of 16.8%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(34.9%)	16.8%	12.4%	(5.1%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, Africa's potato exports in kind were distributed across a wide range of partner countries. Russia accounted for 23.0% of exports, Greece for 8.3%, and Italy for 5.2%, with these three countries together representing just 36.5% of total flows.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, M $ US

Africa exported 296.6 million US dollars worth of potatoes in 2020, down by 13.6% compared to the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, exports decreased by 17.4%, with an average annual decline of 6.2%. The lowest value was recorded in 2018 at 282.5 million US dollars, which also experienced the largest decline of 21.3%. The largest increase occurred in 2019 with a rise of 21.5%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(21.3%)	21.5%	(13.6%)	(6.2%)

Source: SHEV.io

The data from 2017 to 2020 show that Africa's potato exports in value terms were not concentrated on a few key destinations. Russia accounted for 24.9% of exports, Greece for 9.1%, and Italy for 5.7%, with these three countries jointly representing only 39.8% of total flows.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports potato to Africa

Imports in kind, K t

In 2020, foreign potato supplies to Africa amounted to 638 thousand tonnes, reflecting a steep decrease of 41.5% from 2019. Between 2017 and 2020, imports decreased by 19.5%, equating to an annualized rate of 7.0%. The highest volume was recorded in 2019 at 1 091 thousand tonnes, which also saw the largest increase of 64.9%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(16.5%)	64.9%	(41.5%)	(7.0%)

Source: SHEV.io

Throughout 2017 to 2020, the Netherlands, France, and the United Kingdom formed the core of Africa's potato imports in kind. The Netherlands accounted for 47.0% of imports, France for 10.9%, and the United Kingdom for 7.0%, with these three countries together taking 64.9% of total flows.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, M $ US

Africa's potato imports have declined for the third consecutive year. In 2020, the continent imported a total of 305.0 million US dollars worth of potatoes, showing a decline of 9.2% compared to the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, imports decreased by 20.1%, with an average annual decline of 7.2%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(5.8%)	(6.6%)	(9.2%)	(7.2%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, the Netherlands, France, and the United Kingdom formed the key group of partners for Africa's potato imports in value terms. The Netherlands accounted for 43.1% of imports, France for 14.4%, and the United Kingdom for 11.2%, with these three countries jointly representing 68.6% of total flows.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io