Market research

Sweet potatoe market in Africa

Release date: Mar 27, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

Report language:

Report language:

Submission method: to your account

File format: docx, xlsx

Single Report

$500

Instant access to detailed data on one specific market
Ideal for one-off tasks: niche assessments, presentations, investment decisions
Available in Excel and Word in 15 minutes after purchase
Cheaper than subscription, but each market requires a separate purchase

Best if you know exactly what you need

Buy a single report

Platform Subscription

from$600

Complete and unlimited data access across products and regions
Includes continuous data updates during subscription period
Download reports instantly in Word, and Excel formats
More cost-effective for multiple markets or regular analysis

Ideal for regular data users

View pricing plans

"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

The African sweet potato market experienced sustained expansion from 2018 to 2021, with production rising from 26 914 thousand tons to 29 155 thousand tons and market volume increasing from 26 890 thousand tons to 29 093 thousand tons. In monetary terms, the market value grew from $30 251 million to $32 121 million over the same period.

This upward trajectory was interrupted in 2022 when market volume fell by 6.0% to 27 349 thousand tons. The following year brought a partial recovery, with volume reaching 27 439 thousand tons in 2023, while market value surged by 9.4% to $33 673 million, indicating stronger price dynamics.

Regional developments in 2024 included heavy rains hampering the sweet potato harvest in South Africa's Brits region and a sharp depreciation of the Egyptian pound influencing export flows to Europe.

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. 4.1.2. In value
    1. 4.1.2.1. Production, 2018-2023
    2. 4.1.2.2. Imports, 2018-2024
    3. 4.1.2.3. Exports, 2018-2024
    4. 4.1.2.4. 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. Exports
1. 6.1. Exports (Direct Data*)
  1. 6.1.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 6.1.2. Exports in kind, K t
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Algeria in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Algeria by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 6.1.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.1.3. Exports in value, M $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Algeria in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Algeria by countries, 2018-2024, M $ 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 Algeria, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Algeria 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, K t
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Algeria in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Algeria by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 6.2.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.2.3. Exports in value, M $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Algeria in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Algeria by countries, 2018-2024, M $ 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 Algeria, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Algeria 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, K t
    1. 7.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Algeria in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Algeria by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 7.1.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.1.3. Imports in value, M $ US
    1. 7.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Algeria in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Algeria by countries, 2018-2024, M $ 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 Algeria, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Algeria 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, K t
    1. 7.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Algeria in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Algeria by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 7.2.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.2.3. Imports in value, M $ US
    1. 7.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Algeria in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Algeria by countries, 2018-2024, M $ 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 Algeria, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to 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 sweet potatoe in Africa

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of sweet potatoe, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of sweet potatoe, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Africa's sweet potato production increased for the second consecutive year. In 2020, Africa produced 28 500 K t of sweet potatoes, which is 2.6% higher than the previous year. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, production decreased by 3.1%, with a compound annual growth rate of 1.0%. The lowest production level was recorded in 2018 at 26 914 K t. The largest decline occurred in 2018, with an 8.5% drop, while the largest increase was in 2019, with a 3.2% rise.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(8.5%)	3.2%	2.6%	(1.0%)

Source: SHEV.io

In value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Africa's sweet potato production value increased for the third consecutive year. In 2020, the output of sweet potatoes in Africa was valued at 32 035 M $ US, representing a slight rise of 2.3% year-over-year. From 2017 to 2020, production value increased by 10.9%, with a compound annual growth rate of 3.5%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	4.8%	3.4%	2.3%	3.5%

Source: SHEV.io

Exports sweet potatoe from Africa

Exports in kind, t

The market showed signs of volatility during the observed period. The lowest point was recorded in 2018 at 26 071 t, while the peak occurred in 2020 at 50 575 t, showing a 1.9-fold swing. In 2020, Africa's volume of sweet potato exports was 50 575 t, reflecting a slight gain of 1.8% year-over-year. The largest decline was in 2018, with a 1.4% drop, and the largest increase was in 2019, with a 90.6% rise.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(1.4%)	90.6%	1.8%	24.1%

Source: SHEV.io

The structure of exports in kind from 2017 to 2020 points to a diversified set of partners. The United Kingdom accounted for 24.0% of exports in kind, the Netherlands for 12.0%, and Saudi Arabia for 4.7%, jointly making up 40.8% of total flows. The remaining 59.2% was dispersed among numerous smaller markets.

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, K $ US

Foreign sweet potato supplies from Africa increased for the third consecutive year. In 2020, exports totaled 56 848 K $ US, showing a slight increase of 1.6% compared to 2019. Between 2017 and 2020, exports increased by 118.7%, equating to an annualized rate of 29.8%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	12.8%	90.8%	1.6%	29.8%

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, the United Kingdom, with 40.6% of exports in value terms, the Netherlands with 20.9%, and Saudi Arabia with 8.6% were the principal destinations for exports in value terms. Together, they accounted for 70.1% 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 sweet potatoe to Africa

Imports in kind, t

The market showed signs of volatility over the observed period. The span from 2017 to 2020 exhibited a peak-to-trough amplitude of 2.3 times. In 2020, sweet potato imports into Africa totaled 3 229 t, marking a steep rise of 75.9% compared to the previous year. The largest decline was recorded in 2019, with a 13.1% drop.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	48.1%	(13.1%)	75.9%	31.3%

Source: SHEV.io

Throughout 2017 to 2020, the country structure of imports in kind was largely shaped by the Netherlands and Belgium, which together accounted for 4.6% 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, K $ US

Africa imported a total of 2 935 K $ US of sweet potatoes in 2020, amounting to a steep rise of 37.5% compared to the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, imports increased by 57.9%, equating to an annualized rate of 16.5%. The largest decline was recorded in 2019, with a 5.2% drop.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	21.2%	(5.2%)	37.5%	16.5%

Source: SHEV.io

In 2017 to 2020, the country structure of imports in value terms was highly diversified. Belgium accounted for 10.1% of imports in value terms, the Netherlands for 3.7%, and Portugal for 2.0%, together making up only 15.8% of total flows. A long tail of smaller markets formed the remaining 84.2%.

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