Sweet potatoe market in Sri Lanka

Earlier Report Observations

The sweet potato market in Sri Lanka showed variable volumes from 2018 to 2022. After reaching 43 043 t in 2018, the market contracted to 35 543 t in 2019 before recovering to 44 472 t in 2020. It then saw minor adjustments, settling at 44 828 t in 2022.

A pronounced expansion occurred in 2023, with market volume rising 18% to 52 925 t. This growth coincided with the emergence of new sweet potato varieties like bush, orange, and purple types, broadening the product range. The availability of value-added items such as sweet potato flour and frozen products expanded, catering to health-conscious and convenience-seeking consumers. Concurrently, the Department of Agriculture promoted the crop's cultivation across the country, citing its adaptability and low input requirements, which supported supply. Similar trends in variety diversification and processed product development were noted for 2024.

Production sweet potatoe in Sri Lanka

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Top producers of sweet potatoe, 2017-2020

World map of production of sweet potatoe, 2017-2020

In 2019, Sri Lanka's sweet potato production reached its lowest point at 35,607 tonnes, marking a significant decline of 17.8%. However, production rebounded strongly in 2020, reaching 44,580 tonnes—a substantial increase of 25.2% from the previous year. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, overall production grew by 10.9%, with an average annual growth rate of 3.5%.

Annual dynamics of production in Sri Lanka in kind, 2017-2020, t

Exports sweet potatoe from Sri Lanka

Exports in kind, t

The export market for sweet potatoes from Sri Lanka exhibited notable volatility during this period. Exports bottomed out in 2017, then surged to a peak in 2018 at 288.0 tonnes, representing a dramatic increase of 490.4%. However, they fell sharply in 2019 by 77.8%. In 2020, exports recovered to 108.2 tonnes, up 68.9% from 2019. The gap between the peak in 2018 and the trough in 2017 was substantial, with exports in 2018 being 5.9 times higher.

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

From 2017 to 2020, the top buyers of Sri Lankan sweet potatoes by volume were Maldives, accounting for 58.1% of exports, Saudi Arabia with 20.6%, and Qatar at 7.8%. Together, these three countries made up 86.6% of total exports in kind.

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

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

Exports in value, K $ US

Export values showed significant volatility over the observed years. The lowest point was in 2017, followed by a peak in 2018 at 454.4 thousand US dollars, which was a staggering increase of 938.7%. Exports then dropped by 83.8% in 2019. In 2020, they rebounded to 216.5 thousand US dollars, up 193.3% from 2019. The difference between the 2018 peak and the 2017 trough was substantial, with 2018 values being 10.4 times higher.

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

In terms of value from 2017 to 2020, Maldives was the largest contributor to Sri Lanka's sweet potato exports, accounting for 53.5% of the total. Saudi Arabia followed with 13.5%, and Angola with 10.3%. Collectively, these three markets represented 77.4% of total export value.

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

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

Imports sweet potatoe to Sri Lanka

Imports in kind, t

Import volumes of sweet potatoes into Sri Lanka were highly volatile during this period. The lowest point was in 2017, followed by a peak in 2018 at 8.5 tonnes, which represented an extraordinary increase of 134,436.2%. Imports then plummeted by 98.4% in 2019. In 2020, they rose to 0.6 tonnes, up 337.5% from 2019. The gap between the 2018 peak and the 2017 trough was immense, with 2018 imports being 1,345 times higher.

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

Throughout 2017 to 2020, Egypt dominated Sri Lanka's sweet potato imports by volume, accounting for 79.8% of the total. Other sources contributed relatively minor shares.

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

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

Imports in value, K $ US

Import values into Sri Lanka showed extreme volatility from 2017 to 2020. The lowest value was recorded in 2017, followed by a peak in 2018 at 10.5 thousand US dollars, marking an astronomical increase of 167,771.2%. Values then fell by 99.7% in 2019. In 2020, imports totaled 216.5 thousand US dollars, up 590.9% from 2019. The difference between the 2018 peak and the 2017 trough was vast, with 2018 values being 1,679 times higher.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Egypt was the primary source for Sri Lanka's sweet potato imports by value, accounting for 77.9% of the total. Other countries played a much smaller role in the import structure.

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

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