Sweet potatoe market in South Africa

Earlier Report Observations

The South African sweet potato market opened the 2018-2025 period with a relatively high volume of 85 thousand t, supported by the entry of new agricultural enterprises like Jay Jay Farming, which began potato production and reflected general dynamism in the vegetable sector. Legislative frameworks such as the Agricultural Product Standards Act provided the regulatory backdrop. However, by 2021, the market volume had contracted to 68 thousand t, a decline concurrent with a significant rise in export volumes which reduced domestic availability.

A shift in consumer patterns towards processed potato products like fries and chips emerged by 2022, creating ancillary demand that could support the sweet potato segment if used in similar value-added forms. This period also saw continued farm-level expansion, with initiatives like the John Deere SMART Programme and grants enabling producers, including Jay Jay Farming, to increase cultivated area to 10 ha by 2024, supporting production capacity despite market volume volatility.

In the latter part of the period, market dynamics were shaped by increased supply contributing to lower potato prices in 2024 and significant regulatory evolution. The Agricultural Products Standard Act Amendment 2023 came into effect, while consumer behavior shifted towards frozen foods due to load-shedding concerns. Direct support for sweet potato production through ARC's virus-free planting material program aimed to improve yields and disease control, targeting enhanced future output.

Production sweet potatoe in South Africa

In kind, 2018-2021, t

Top producers of sweet potatoe, 2018-2021

World map of production of sweet potatoe, 2018-2021

South Africa's sweet potato production declined for the second consecutive year. In 2021, the country produced 81 613 tonnes of sweet potatoes, marking a 3.0% decrease from the previous year. Over the period from 2018 to 2021, production fell by 5.3%, with a compound annual growth rate of 1.8%. The highest production volume was recorded in 2019 at 90 156 tonnes, which saw the largest increase of 4.6%. However, the largest decline occurred in 2020, with a drop of 6.7%.

Annual dynamics of production in South Africa in kind, 2018-2021, t

In value, 2018-2021, K $ US

After a two-year decline, sweet potato production in South Africa saw an increase in value. In 2021, the output was valued at 66 411 thousand US dollars, representing a moderate rise of 3.6% compared to the previous year. From 2018 to 2021, production value decreased by 8.8%, with a compound annual growth rate of 3.0%. The lowest value was recorded in 2020 at 64 094 thousand US dollars, while the largest decline happened in 2019 with a 7.8% drop.

Annual dynamics of production in South Africa in value, 2018-2021, K $ US

Exports sweet potatoe from South Africa

Exports in kind, t

Sweet potato exports from South Africa increased for the third consecutive year. In 2021, export volume reached 14 341 tonnes, showing a sharp gain of 90.9% year-over-year. Between 2018 and 2021, exports surged by 834.4%, equating to an annualized growth rate of 110.6%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from South Africa in kind, 2018-2021, t

From 2018 to 2021, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom were the main buyers of sweet potatoes from South Africa, together accounting for 80.3% of total exports in volume. The remaining exports were distributed among various other countries.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2021

World map of product's exports from South Africa in kind, 2018-2021

Exports in value, K $ US

Foreign sweet potato supplies from South Africa increased for the third consecutive year. In 2021, exports totaled 11 669 thousand US dollars, which is 103.9% higher than in 2020. Between 2018 and 2021, exports grew by 799.8%, with an annualized rate of 108.0%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from South Africa in value, 2018-2021, K $ US

Throughout 2018 to 2021, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom remained the principal destinations for exports in value terms, jointly taking 82.5% of total flows. Other partners each held significantly smaller shares.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2021

World map of product's exports from South Africa in value, 2018-2021

Imports sweet potatoe to South Africa

Imports in kind, t

The market exhibited an unstable trend throughout the timeframe. Imports reached their lowest point in 2019 at 112 tonnes, then peaked in 2021 at 1 203 tonnes—a difference of 10.7 times. In 2021, South Africa's volume of sweet potato imports tallied 1 203 tonnes, showing a sharp rise of 204.3% from a year earlier. The largest decline was recorded in 2019 at 64.5%, while the largest increase occurred in 2020 with a 251.6% jump.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to South Africa in kind, 2018-2021, t

From 2018 to 2021, Malawi absorbed 71.5% of total sweet potato imports to South Africa in volume, with the balance spread across a wide range of smaller destinations.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2021

World map of product's imports to South Africa in kind, 2018-2021

Imports in value, K $ US

Sweet potato deliveries to South Africa declined for the third consecutive year. In 2021, imports amounted to 84 thousand US dollars, marking a gradual decline of 9.0% year-over-year. Over the period from 2018 to 2021, imports decreased by 25.9%, with a compound annual growth rate of 9.5%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to South Africa in value, 2018-2021, K $ US

From 2018 to 2021, Belgium, Malawi, and Namibia accounted for the largest share of imports in value terms, with 27.1%, 20.5%, and 15.2% respectively. Together, they comprised 62.8% of total flows.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2021

World map of product's imports to South Africa in value, 2018-2021