Sweet potatoe market in Ethiopia

Earlier Report Observations

Sweet potato production in Ethiopia showed significant volatility from 2018 to 2023, peaking at 2 131 thousand tons in 2020—a year marked by COVID-19 pandemic disruptions to supply chains—before declining sharply to 1 202 thousand tons in 2022. The steep drops in 2021 and 2022 aligned with persistent sectoral constraints, including severe shortages of clean planting materials and damaging pest and disease outbreaks that limited yields.

Throughout the period, the market remained dominated by smallholder farmers with limited access to quality seeds, extension services, and commercial market infrastructure. These structural challenges, coupled with knowledge gaps and viral diseases, kept production largely semi-commercial and vulnerable to annual fluctuations.

In response to these chronic issues, the Ethiopian Ministry of Agriculture adopted the National Potato and Sweetpotato Strategy (2024–2030) in 2022. This policy initiative aims to improve productivity and value chain efficiency for over one million farmers through coordinated efforts by government, research institutions, and development partners.

Production sweet potatoe in Ethiopia

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Ethiopia was one of the world's top sweet potato producers from 2017 to 2020, ranking fifth globally by production volume during this period.

Top producers of sweet potatoe, 2017-2020

World map of production of sweet potatoe, 2017-2020

Ethiopia's sweet potato production increased for the second consecutive year in 2020, reaching 2 131 thousand tonnes. This represents a 14.4% rise compared to the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, overall production declined by 4.5%, with a compound annual growth rate of 1.5%. The lowest production volume was recorded in 2018 at 1 810 thousand tonnes, which also saw the largest annual decline of 18.9%.

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

In value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Following a two-year decline, Ethiopia's sweet potato production value rebounded in 2020, reaching 305.6 million US dollars. This marked a 14.2% increase from the previous year. However, over the entire 2017-2020 period, production value fell by 26.1%, with a compound annual growth rate of 9.6%. The lowest value was recorded in 2019 at 267.7 million US dollars, while the largest annual decline occurred in 2018 at 20.4%.

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

Exports sweet potatoe from Ethiopia

Exports in kind, kg

In 2020, Ethiopia's sweet potato export volume was 9 579 kilograms, representing a 26.9% decrease from 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, exports declined by 31%, with a compound annual growth rate of 11.6%. The largest annual decline was recorded in 2018 at 30.0%, while the largest increase occurred in 2019 at 34.7%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Ethiopia's sweet potato export market was extremely concentrated, with Djibouti accounting for 99.3% of all export volumes.

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

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

Exports in value, $ US

In 2020, Ethiopia's sweet potato export value totaled 1 374 US dollars, showing a sharp decline of 27.1% from the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, export value decreased by 46.6%, equivalent to an annualized rate of 18.9%. The largest annual decline was recorded in 2018 at 31.3%, while the largest increase occurred in 2019 at 6.5%.

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

During 2017-2020, Djibouti was nearly the exclusive buyer of Ethiopian sweet potatoes, purchasing 98.7% of total export value.

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

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

Imports sweet potatoe to Ethiopia

Imports in kind, kg

The import market showed significant volatility during the observed period. Imports peaked in 2017 and fell to their lowest point in 2018 at 420 kilograms, representing a 4.6-fold difference between these years. In 2020, Ethiopia imported 1 054 kilograms of sweet potatoes, marking a 19.5% decrease from 2019. The largest annual decline occurred in 2018 at 78.5%, while the largest increase was recorded in 2019 at 211.7%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, 100% of Ethiopia's sweet potato imports by volume came from China, making this market overwhelmingly dominant.

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

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

Imports in value, $ US

The import market exhibited considerable volatility during the observed period. Imports reached their lowest point in 2018 at 1 219 US dollars and peaked in 2020 at 4 404 US dollars, representing a 3.6-fold difference. The 2020 value marked an 87.9% year-over-year increase. The largest annual decline was recorded in 2018 at 68.6%, while the largest increase occurred in 2019 at 92.2%.

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

During 2017-2020, Ethiopia's sweet potato imports by value were highly concentrated, with China accounting for 100% of total import flows.

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

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