Sweet potatoe market in Southern Asia, 2026

Earlier Report Observations

The sweet potato market in Southern Asia, primarily India, began the period at 1 802 thousand tonnes in 2018, bolstered by government schemes for irrigation, cold storage, and transport that supported cultivation. In 2019, the market volume fell to 1 455 thousand tonnes. The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 introduced supply chain disruptions while simultaneously increasing consumer focus on health-supporting foods, contributing to market stabilization at 1 446 thousand tonnes.

From 2021, the market entered a growth phase, reaching 1 459 thousand tonnes that year as continued investment in frozen potato processing facilities and cold chain infrastructure expanded capacity. This expansion accelerated in 2022, with volume rising to 1 546 thousand tonnes, propelled by rising consumer preference for healthier, organic, and convenient processed potato products alongside increased automation in processing plants.

The upward trend continued in 2023, with market volume climbing to 1 671 thousand tonnes. This growth was fueled by significant investments from major companies like McCain Foods in new processing capacities and the emergence of new sweet potato varieties, such as purple sweet potatoes with high anthocyanin content, which catered to growing demand for value-added products.

Production sweet potatoe in Southern Asia

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of sweet potatoe, 2017-2020

World map of production of sweet potatoe, 2017-2020

In 2020, Southern Asia produced 1 446 K t of sweet potatoes, showing no significant change compared to 2019. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, production decreased by 18.6%, which translates to an annualized decline of 6.6%. The lowest production level was recorded in 2019 at 1 444 K t, while the highest was in 2018 at 1 803 K t. The largest year-over-year decrease occurred in 2019 at 19.9%, and the largest increase was in 2018 at 1.5%.

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

Exports sweet potatoe from Southern Asia

Exports in kind, K t

The market exhibited volatility during these years. Exports reached their lowest point in 2020 and peaked in 2019, with a 5.2-fold difference between these two years. In 2020, Southern Asia exported 0.4 K t of sweet potatoes, marking an 80.6% decrease from the previous year. The highest export volume was recorded in 2019 at 1.9 K t, and the largest year-over-year increase occurred in 2019 at 77.9%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Southern Asia in kind, 2017-2020, K t

From 2017 to 2020, sweet potato exports from Southern Asia were distributed across a wide range of partner countries. Turkmenistan accounted for 13.6% of exports in kind, Qatar for 10.1%, and Uzbekistan for 7.3%. Together, these three countries represented only 30.9% of total export flows.

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

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

Exports in value, K $ US

The market showed signs of volatility over the observed period. The minimum value was recorded in 2017 and the maximum in 2019, with a 5.2-fold variation between them. In 2020, Southern Asia exported sweet potatoes worth 457 K US dollars, a 50.3% decrease compared to the previous year. The highest export value was in 2019 at 921 K US dollars, and the largest year-over-year increase occurred in 2018 at 336.4%.

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

Between 2017 and 2020, sweet potatoes from Southern Asia were exported to a diverse set of markets. Saudi Arabia accounted for 15.3% of exports in value terms, Turkmenistan for 10.3%, and Iraq for 8.1%. Combined, these three destinations represented only 33.7% of total export value, with many smaller markets making up the remaining 66.3%.

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

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

Imports sweet potatoe to Southern Asia

Imports in kind, K t

The market displayed an unstable trend throughout the timeframe. Imports hit their lowest point in 2017 and peaked in 2019, showing a 107-fold gap between these years. In 2020, Southern Asia imported 0.7 K t of sweet potatoes, a 95.0% decrease year-over-year. The highest import volume was recorded in 2019 at 13.3 K t, and the largest year-over-year increase occurred in 2019 at 2,523.5%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Southern Asia in kind, 2017-2020, K t

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

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

Imports in value, K $ US

Volatility characterized the market behavior during these years. The minimum value was recorded in 2018 and the maximum in 2019, with volumes varying 23 times between these points. In 2020, sweet potato shipments to Southern Asia from abroad totaled 985 K US dollars, which is 93.6% lower year-over-year. The lowest import value was in 2018 at 662 K US dollars, while the highest was in 2019 at 15 417 K US dollars. The largest year-over-year increase was recorded in 2019 at 2,227.6%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, the United Arab Emirates accounted for 2.7% of imports in value terms, Egypt for 2.0%, and Singapore for 0.6%. Together, these three countries represented 5.4% of total import value and were the main destinations for sweet potatoes imported into Southern Asia.

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

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