Sweet potatoe market in Northern Africa, 2026

Earlier Report Observations

Between 2018 and 2023, the sweet potato market in Northern Africa experienced considerable volatility in volume terms. The market size fluctuated from 738.4 thousand tonnes in 2018 to a low of 530.1 thousand tonnes in 2022, before recovering to 576.2 thousand tonnes in 2023.

Production trends closely mirrored market volume movements, indicating that domestic output was the primary determinant of supply. After a decline in 2019, both production and market size surged in 2020, but subsequent years saw a downward adjustment, culminating in a sharp contraction in 2022.

By 2023, the market showed signs of partial recovery, with production rising to 677.6 thousand tonnes. Over the period, the market value followed a similar pattern, reaching 724.6 million USD in 2023 after a trough in 2022.

Production sweet potatoe in Northern Africa

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of sweet potatoe, 2017-2020

World map of production of sweet potatoe, 2017-2020

In 2020, Northern Africa produced 802.5 thousand tonnes of sweet potatoes, marking a substantial 13.0% increase compared to the previous year. Looking at the period from 2017 to 2020, production grew by 31.1%, which translates to an average annual growth rate of 9.4%. The largest decline occurred in 2019, with a drop of 6.4%, while the most significant increase was recorded in 2018, at 23.9%.

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

In value, 2017-2020, M $ US

In 2020, the output of sweet potatoes in Northern Africa was valued at 956.2 million US dollars, representing a 16.6% year-over-year advance. Over the 2017-2020 period, production increased by 43.7%, with a compound annual growth rate of 12.8%. The largest decline was observed in 2019, at 5.1%, and the largest increase occurred in 2018, reaching 29.9%.

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

Exports sweet potatoe from Northern Africa

Exports in kind, t

The market showed an unstable trend throughout the timeframe. Exports reached their lowest point in 2017 and peaked in 2019, with a 2.7-fold variation between these years. In 2020, foreign sweet potato supplies from Northern Africa amounted to 39 474 tonnes, reflecting a modest decline of 7.1% compared to the previous year. The maximum value was recorded in 2019 at 42 494 tonnes, which also saw the largest increase of 108.7%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, the United Kingdom (42.2% of exports in kind), the Netherlands (20.5% of exports in kind), and Saudi Arabia (10.6% of exports in kind) formed the core of exports in kind, together accounting for 73.3% of total flows.

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

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

Exports in value, K $ US

Volatility characterized the market behavior during these years. Exports hit their lowest point in 2017 and peaked in 2019, with a 2.8-fold gap between these years. In 2020, sweet potato exports from Northern Africa totalled 47 037 thousand US dollars, down by 4.2% from the previous year. The maximum value was recorded in 2019 at 49 094 thousand US dollars, which also experienced the largest increase of 111.7%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, the United Kingdom (42.4% of exports in value terms), the Netherlands (20.7% of exports in value terms), and Saudi Arabia (10.5% of exports in value terms) were the main markets for exports in value terms, together accounting for 73.6% of total flows.

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

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

Imports sweet potatoe to Northern Africa

Imports in kind, t

Volatility characterized the market behavior during these years. Imports reached their lowest point in 2017 and peaked in 2018, with a peak-to-trough ratio of 238 times. In 2020, Northern Africa imported 15 tonnes of sweet potatoes, marking a strong decline of 19.3% from a year earlier. The maximum value was recorded in 2018 at 21 tonnes, which also saw the largest increase of 23,688.2%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Portugal (16.9% of imports in kind), the Netherlands (0.9% of imports in kind), and France (0.6% of imports in kind) remained the principal suppliers of sweet potatoes to Northern Africa, jointly accounting for 18.4% of total imports in kind.

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

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

Imports in value, K $ US

The market exhibited an unstable trend throughout the timeframe. Imports hit their lowest point in 2017 and peaked in 2019, with a 342-fold gap between these years. In 2020, Northern Africa's sweet potato imports amounted to 18 thousand US dollars, representing a solid loss of 18.3% compared to the previous year. The maximum value was recorded in 2019 at 23 thousand US dollars, while the largest increase occurred in 2018, at 29,239.7%.

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

Over the 2017-2020 period, Portugal (6.0% of imports in value terms), France (1.4% of imports in value terms), and the Netherlands (1.0% of imports in value terms) together absorbed 8.4% of total imports in value terms of sweet potatoes to Northern Africa, making them the main directions.

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

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