Market research

Spinach 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 fresh spinach market in Eastern Africa expanded sharply, with production rising from 169 thousand tons to 243 thousand tons. This growth was primarily driven by increasing consumer demand for fresh, nutritious vegetables, supported by health-conscious trends. Farmers adopted improved cultivation methods and technologies to enhance yield, while urban farming initiatives gained traction as a strategy to boost food security in cities, further stimulating supply.

After peaking in 2020, market volume contracted over the next two years, falling to 157 thousand tons in 2022. During this period, some farmers began exploring value-added activities such as processing spinach into paste to improve profitability. By 2023, the market recovered to 170 thousand tons, aided by growing commercial demand for hybrid and fast-maturing spinach varieties that allow quicker turnover and better meet market needs.

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, 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. Exports
1. 6.1. Exports (Direct Data*)
  1. 6.1.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 6.1.2. Exports in kind, kg
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from British Indian Ocean Territory in kind, 2018-2024, kg
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from British Indian Ocean Territory by countries, 2018-2024, kg
    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, kg
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from British Indian Ocean Territory in kind, 2018-2024, kg
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from British Indian Ocean Territory by countries, 2018-2024, kg
    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, kg
    1. 7.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to British Indian Ocean Territory in kind, 2018-2024, kg
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to British Indian Ocean Territory by countries, 2018-2024, kg
    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, kg
    1. 7.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to British Indian Ocean Territory in kind, 2018-2024, kg
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to British Indian Ocean Territory by countries, 2018-2024, kg
    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, kg
  2. 8.1.2. In value, K $ US
2. 8.2. Trade balance (Mirror Data)
  1. 8.2.1. In kind, kg
  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 spinach in Eastern Africa

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of spinach, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of spinach, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Spinach production in Eastern Africa has grown for the third year in a row. In 2020, the region produced 243.3 thousand tons of spinach, marking a significant 34.9% increase compared to the previous year. Looking at the period from 2017 to 2020, production surged by 86%, with an average annual growth rate of 23.0%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	29.5%	6.5%	34.9%	23.0%

Source: SHEV.io

Exports spinach from Eastern Africa

Exports in kind, kg

The market showed considerable volatility during these years. Exports reached their lowest point in 2020 at 1 567 kg, which was an 83.5% drop from the year before. In contrast, the peak was in 2018 with 16 049 kg, resulting in a 10.2-fold difference between the two years. The most substantial increase occurred in 2018, when exports jumped by 435.2%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Eastern Africa in kind, 2017-2020, kg

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	435.2%	(40.9%)	(83.5%)	(19.5%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, the main destinations for spinach exports from Eastern Africa were the United Arab Emirates, accounting for 45.3% of exports by volume, Bunkers with 11.6%, and Oman at 6.0%. Together, these three markets made up 62.8% 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

Market performance exhibited notable fluctuations over this period. Exports hit their lowest in 2020 at 2.6 thousand US dollars, a sharp 96.1% decline from the previous year. The highest value was recorded in 2019 at 66.2 thousand US dollars, creating a 26-fold gap between the two years. The largest increase took place in 2018, with a rise of 420.0%.

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	420.0%	26.0%	(96.1%)	(36.6%)

Source: SHEV.io

Between 2017 and 2020, the primary buyers of spinach from Eastern Africa in value terms were the United Arab Emirates, representing 58.8% of exports, Oman at 8.7%, and the Netherlands with 2.6%. Collectively, these countries accounted for 70.1% 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 spinach to Eastern Africa

Imports in kind, kg

Spinach imports into Eastern Africa fell for the second consecutive year. In 2020, imports totaled 24 981 kg, down 51.6% year-over-year. Over the 2017-2020 period, imports decreased by 48.6%, which translates to an annualized decline of 19.9%. The peak was in 2018 at 64 375 kg, and the largest increase occurred that same year, with a 32.4% rise.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Eastern Africa in kind, 2017-2020, kg

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	32.4%	(19.8%)	(51.6%)	(19.9%)

Source: SHEV.io

During 2017-2020, South Africa and Italy dominated spinach imports into Eastern Africa by volume, together making up 83.1% of the total. Other countries contributed to a more diverse but smaller share of imports.

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, spinach imports into Eastern Africa declined. In 2020, imports amounted to 84.7 thousand US dollars, a 46.3% decrease compared to the previous year. From 2017 to 2020, imports dropped by 24.3%, with an average annual decline of 8.9%. The highest value was in 2019 at 157.7 thousand US dollars, and the largest increase happened in 2018, with a 23.2% rise.

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	23.2%	14.4%	(46.3%)	(8.9%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, South Africa and Italy were the main sources of spinach imports into Eastern Africa in value terms, while other markets played a less significant role in the import structure.

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