Sweet potatoe market in Mauritania

Earlier Report Observations

The sweet potato market in Mauritania began the period with a high volume of 23,334 t in 2018, supported by substantial imports of 17,971 t alongside domestic production concentrated in the southern Gorgol region. Local production faced significant post-harvest losses estimated at 50% due to isolation and storage challenges, with traditional farming methods and women-led processing into flour aiming to reduce waste. Market volume then sharply contracted to 9,954 t in 2019, primarily due to a steep drop in imports, while domestic production remained relatively stable around 5,200 t.

From 2020 to 2023, market volume gradually recovered to 11,986 t but stayed well below 2018 levels. A broad vegetable supply deficit of 85% in 2021 underscored Mauritania's reliance on imports for staples like onions and potatoes, indirectly affecting the sweet potato chain. Persistent post-harvest losses continued to constrain the availability of locally grown produce, maintaining import dependence. During this period, initiatives to add value through processing—such as producing flour and using leaves for livestock feed—gained momentum, supported by state-backed projects like the Agricultural Transformation Support Project in Mauritania (PATAM) aimed at structuring the horticulture and processing sectors.

By 2024, government measures to protect domestic production, including surcharges on vegetable imports and subsequent adjustments to customs duties, alongside ongoing efforts to organize the supply chain and empower women processors, were shaping market dynamics. These factors, combined with climate-related disruptions affecting supply and prices, contributed to a rise in imports, indicating sustained demand within the evolving market framework.

Production sweet potatoe in Mauritania

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Top producers of sweet potatoe, 2017-2020

World map of production of sweet potatoe, 2017-2020

In Mauritania, sweet potato production reached 5,348 tonnes in 2020, representing a 2.1% increase from the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, production grew by 2.9%, with an average annual growth rate of 1.0%. The highest production level was recorded in 2018 at 5,363 tonnes. The most significant decline occurred in 2019, when production fell by 2.3%, while the largest increase was observed in 2018 with a 3.2% rise.

Annual dynamics of production in Mauritania in kind, 2017-2020, t

Exports sweet potatoe from Mauritania

According to industry analysis, Mauritania did not export any sweet potatoes between 2017 and 2020.

Imports sweet potatoe to Mauritania

Imports in kind, t

The market showed an unstable trend throughout the period. Imports reached their lowest point in 2017 and peaked in 2018, with a 32-fold difference between these years. In 2020, Mauritania imported 7,185 tonnes of sweet potatoes, marking a 52.4% increase compared to the previous year. The highest import volume was recorded in 2018 at 17,971 tonnes. The most substantial decline occurred in 2019, when imports dropped by 73.8%, while the largest increase was in 2018 with a 3,058.3% surge.

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

From 2017 to 2020, sweet potato imports to Mauritania were primarily sourced from Mali, which accounted for 93.0% of total imports in volume terms.

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

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

Imports in value, K $ US

Foreign sweet potato supplies to Mauritania increased for the third consecutive year. In 2020, Mauritania imported approximately 1,069 thousand US dollars worth of sweet potatoes, equivalent to a sharp 98.1% rise compared to the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, imports grew by 621%, with an average annual growth rate of 93.2%.

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

Between 2017 and 2020, two markets—Mali and Senegal—dominated sweet potato imports to Mauritania in value terms, jointly accounting for 99.7% of total import flows.

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

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