Sweet potatoe market in the United States

Earlier Report Observations

The US sweet potato market expanded sharply in 2019, with volume rising to 1.2 million tons from 955 thousand tons the previous year. This surge was supported by strategic moves such as Jackson Farming Company's acquisition of the Wayne Bailey Produce sales team, which strengthened industry presence, and Lamb Weston's entry into frozen potato products, including sweet potatoes. Concurrently, growing consumer health consciousness and the launch of innovative sweet potato products stimulated demand.

After the peak, market volume dipped to 1.1 million tons in 2020 and then stabilized around 1.1 million tons in 2021. The 2021 slight recovery coincided with heightened awareness of sweet potatoes' nutritional benefits and the expansion of processed items like chips, fries, and puree, which added value and variety to the market.

From 2022 onward, the market contracted, falling to 929 thousand tons in 2023. During this period, demand drivers such as the popularity of ready-to-consume snacks and frozen sweet potato products continued to shape the industry, alongside broader trends like organic farming and sustainability. However, these factors were accompanied by a decline in overall volume, reflecting possible supply-side adjustments or market recalibration.

Production sweet potatoe in the United States

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

From 2017 to 2020, the United States held the 8th position globally in sweet potato production.

Top producers of sweet potatoe, 2017-2020

World map of production of sweet potatoe, 2017-2020

In 2020, the United States produced 1 367 K t of sweet potatoes, marking a 5.8% decrease from 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, production fell by 15.5%, averaging an annual decline of 5.5%. The lowest production level was in 2018 at 1 242 K t, which saw the largest drop of 23.2%. In contrast, 2019 experienced the biggest increase at 16.8%.

Annual dynamics of production in the United States in kind, 2017-2020, K t

In value, 2017-2020, M $ US

In 2020, sweet potato output in the United States was valued at 984 M $ US, down 5.8% year-over-year. From 2017 to 2020, production value decreased by 3.3%, with a compound annual growth rate of -1.1%. The minimum value occurred in 2018 at 793 M $ US, with the largest decline that year of 22.0%. The peak was in 2019 at 1 044 M $ US, which saw the highest increase of 31.7%.

Annual dynamics of production in the United States in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Exports sweet potatoe from the United States

Exports in kind, K t

In 2020, the United States exported 263.0 K t of sweet potatoes, a slight increase of 0.6% from the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, exports decreased by 10%, averaging an annual decline of 3.5%. The lowest export volume was in 2019 at 261.5 K t, which recorded the largest drop of 13.1%. The highest was in 2018 at 301.0 K t, with the biggest increase that year of 3.0%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from the United States in kind, 2017-2020, K t

From 2017 to 2020, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Canada were the top markets for U.S. sweet potato exports in volume terms, accounting for 33.8%, 28.6%, and 25.5% of exports, respectively. Together, they represented 87.9% of total export flows.

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

World map of product's exports from the United States in kind, 2017-2020

Exports in value, M $ US

In 2020, sweet potato shipments from the United States totaled 189.4 M $ US, up 0.6% from the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, export value increased by 2.9%, with an average annual growth rate of 1.0%. The peak value was in 2018 at 192.3 M $ US, which saw the largest increase of 4.5%. The largest decline occurred in 2019 at 2.1%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from the United States in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

During 2017-2020, the United Kingdom, Canada, and the Netherlands were the main destinations for U.S. sweet potato exports in value terms, contributing 32.9%, 27.5%, and 26.1% of exports, respectively. Combined, they accounted for 86.4% of total export value.

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

World map of product's exports from the United States in value, 2017-2020

Imports sweet potatoe to the United States

Imports in kind, K t

U.S. sweet potato imports declined for the second consecutive year in 2020, reaching 11.7 K t, a sharp contraction of 14.6% year-over-year. From 2017 to 2020, imports decreased by 4.3%, with a compound annual growth rate of -1.4%. The highest import volume was in 2018 at 14.5 K t, which recorded the largest increase of 18.9%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to the United States in kind, 2017-2020, K t

From 2017 to 2020, the Dominican Republic, Canada, and Peru were the principal sources of sweet potato imports to the United States in volume terms, representing 58.0%, 14.5%, and 7.8% of imports, respectively. Together, they made up 80.3% of total import flows.

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

World map of product's imports to the United States in kind, 2017-2020

Imports in value, M $ US

Sweet potato deliveries to the United States fell for the second year in a row in 2020, with imports valued at 13.5 M $ US, a robust decline of 17.9% from the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, import value decreased by 10.6%, averaging an annual drop of 3.7%. The peak was in 2018 at 16.6 M $ US, which saw the largest increase of 10.1%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to the United States in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Over the 2017-2020 period, the Dominican Republic, Peru, and Canada were the primary suppliers of sweet potatoes to the United States in value terms, accounting for 53.9%, 14.3%, and 10.7% of imports, respectively. Jointly, they represented 78.9% of total import value.

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

World map of product's imports to the United States in value, 2017-2020