Market research

Potato market in SADC

Release date: Mar 27, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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"SADC" region includes following countries:

Angola

Botswana

Comoros

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Eswatini

Lesotho

Madagascar

Malawi

Mauritius

Mozambique

Namibia

Seychelles

South Africa

Tanzania

Zambia

Zimbabwe

Earlier Report Observations

Potato production and market volume in SADC grew from 2018 to 2020, reaching a peak in 2020. This expansion was supported by increasing domestic consumption, particularly through informal channels which accounted for a growing share of the market, while average prices remained stable.

A contraction followed in 2021 and 2022, with both production and market size declining from the 2020 high. The market then rebounded in 2023, with production and consumption volumes recovering.

Into 2024, the market saw significant developments as the Competition Commission initiated a Fresh Produce Market Inquiry to investigate anti-competitive practices and barriers, aiming to improve market access. Simultaneously, favourable weather conditions led to bumper harvests, causing potato prices to fall substantially and enhancing affordability for consumers.

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 SADC
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in SADC 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 Angola in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Angola 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, K $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Angola in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Angola 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 Angola, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Angola 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 Angola in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Angola 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, K $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Angola in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Angola 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 Angola, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Angola 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 Angola in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Angola 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, K $ US
    1. 7.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Angola in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Angola 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 Angola, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Angola 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 Angola in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Angola 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, K $ US
    1. 7.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Angola in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Angola 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 Angola, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Angola 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, K $ US
2. 8.2. Trade balance (Mirror Data)
  1. 8.2.1. In kind, K 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 potato in SADC

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

Potato production in SADC has grown for the third year in a row. In 2020, the region produced 6 975 thousand tonnes of potatoes, marking a 5.8% increase from the previous year. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, production rose by 15.1%, with an average annual growth rate of 4.8%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	7.3%	1.5%	5.8%	4.8%

Source: SHEV.io

Exports potato from SADC

Exports in kind, K t

The export market displayed significant volatility during the observed period. Exports hit their lowest point in 2018 at 5.9 thousand tonnes, then surged to a peak of 95.6 thousand tonnes in 2020, representing a dramatic 1,337.8% increase compared to 2019. Overall, exports varied by a factor of 16 between these years, with the largest decline of 64.3% occurring in 2018.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(64.3%)	12.2%	1 337.8%	79.3%

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, Special Categories consistently held the largest share of exports in kind, accounting for 1.0% of total trade flows.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, K $ US

Potato exports from SADC in value terms have declined for the third consecutive year. In 2020, exports reached 43 285 thousand US dollars, reflecting a gradual decrease of 8.1% compared to 2019. Between 2017 and 2020, exports fell by 22.1%, which translates to an average annual decline of 8.0%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(7.9%)	(7.9%)	(8.1%)	(8.0%)

Source: SHEV.io

Throughout 2017–2020, Special Categories and the United Arab Emirates remained the top markets for SADC's potato exports in value terms, together representing 2.1% of total trade flows.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports potato to SADC

Imports in kind, K t

After two years of decline, potato imports into SADC increased in 2020. Imports reached 102.6 thousand tonnes that year, showing a modest gain of 5.3% year-over-year. However, over the full period from 2017 to 2020, imports decreased by 15.4%, with an average annual drop of 5.4%. The lowest import volume was recorded in 2019 at 97.5 thousand tonnes, while the largest decline of 11.9% occurred in 2018.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(11.9%)	(8.8%)	5.3%	(5.4%)

Source: SHEV.io

Between 2017 and 2020, potato imports in kind to SADC came from a diverse range of partner countries. India, the Netherlands, and Germany were key contributors, accounting for 9.5%, 2.5%, and 1.4% of imports in kind, respectively. Together, these three countries made up just 13.3% 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 SADC in kind, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, K $ US

In 2020, SADC imported potatoes worth 54 686 thousand US dollars, showing only a marginal year-over-year fluctuation. The highest import value was recorded in 2018 at 65 453 thousand US dollars, which marked a 20.2% increase. The largest decline occurred in 2019, with a drop of 16.7%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	20.2%	(16.7%)	0.3%	0.2%

Source: SHEV.io

The structure of imports in value terms from 2017 to 2020 was highly diversified. India, the Netherlands, and Germany held shares of 7.2%, 3.5%, and 1.6%, respectively, in import value. Combined, these three countries accounted for just 12.3% of total flows, with no single country dominating the market.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io