Sweet potatoe market in Kenya

Earlier Report Observations

Between 2018 and 2019, Kenya's sweet potato market grew by 12% to 977,000 tons. This expansion was supported by the introduction and promotion of new, high-yielding sweet potato varieties, including vitamin A-rich orange-fleshed types, aimed at improving nutrition and farmer resilience. Projects to enhance market access for farmers also began to take effect during this period.

The market contracted sharply by 30% to 686,000 tons in 2020 due to severe supply chain and market access disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. A recovery followed in 2021, with production rising 13% to 777,000 tons as the sector rebounded and consumer awareness of health benefits spurred demand for value-added products like flour and purees.

After falling 23% to 598,000 tons in 2022, the market rebounded by 12% to 669,000 tons in 2023. The latter growth was aided by the ongoing enforcement of packaging and marketing regulations, which helped formalize trade, alongside the expansion of social enterprise models that streamlined the value chain and improved farmer incomes.

Production sweet potatoe in Kenya

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

From 2017 to 2020, Kenya ranked 14th globally in sweet potato production.

Top producers of sweet potatoe, 2017-2020

World map of production of sweet potatoe, 2017-2020

After two years of growth, Kenya's sweet potato production declined. In 2020, the country produced 685.7 K t of sweet potatoes, a 29.8% decrease from the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, production fell by 10.9%, with a compound annual growth rate of -3.8%. The highest production was recorded in 2019 at 976.7 K t, while the largest increase occurred in 2018 at 13.2%.

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

In value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Sweet potato production in Kenya declined for the second consecutive year. In 2020, the output was valued at 700 M $ US, which is 38.5% lower than the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, production decreased by 30.9%, equating to an annualized rate of -11.6%. The peak value was recorded in 2018 at 1 163 M $ US, with the largest increase also occurring that year at 14.8%.

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

Exports sweet potatoe from Kenya

Exports in kind, t

The data shows irregular changes, indicating a volatile market environment. Export volumes reached their lowest point in 2019 at 5.5 t and peaked in 2017, with a 7.2-fold difference between these years. In 2020, Kenya's sweet potato exports totaled 14.0 t, marking a dramatic increase of 154.2% from 2019. The largest decline was recorded in 2019 at 79.2%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Somalia was the dominant buyer of sweet potatoes from Kenya, accounting for 77.9% of total exports in volume, with other countries sharing the remaining portion.

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

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

Exports in value, $ US

The market exhibited an unstable trend throughout the period. Export values hit their lowest point in 2019 at 6 438 $ US and peaked in 2017, showing an 8.1-fold gap. In 2020, sweet potato exports from Kenya amounted to 14 340 $ US, representing a dramatic gain of 122.7% compared to the previous year. The largest decline was recorded in 2019 at 81.9%.

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

Throughout 2017 to 2020, the three largest markets—Somalia, Qatar, and Norway—were central to Kenya's sweet potato exports in value terms, together accounting for 78.3% of total flows.

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

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

Imports sweet potatoe to Kenya

Imports in kind, t

The data reveals irregular changes, pointing to a volatile market environment. Import volumes dropped to their minimum in 2018 at 0.0 t and peaked in 2017, varying by 32 143 times between these years. In 2020, Kenya's sweet potato imports totaled 4.3 t, up by 44.6% from the previous year. The largest decline occurred in 2018 at 100.0%, while the largest increase was recorded in 2019 at 10 614.3%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Uganda clearly dominated as the supplier of sweet potatoes to Kenya, taking 99.2% of total imports in volume.

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

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

Imports in value, $ US

The data shows irregular changes, indicating a volatile market environment. Import values reached their lowest point in 2018 at 197 $ US and peaked in 2017, with a 248-fold amplitude. In 2020, sweet potato deliveries to Kenya amounted to 3 098 $ US, showing a sharp gain of 37.4% year-over-year. The largest decline was recorded in 2018 at 99.6%, while the largest increase occurred in 2019 at 1 044.8%.

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

Over 2017 to 2020, Uganda was the dominant supplier of sweet potatoes to Kenya, accounting for 88.8% of total imports in value terms, with other countries sharing the remaining volume.

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

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