Sweet potatoe market in Timor-Leste

Earlier Report Observations

A multi-year contraction characterized the sweet potato market in Timor-Leste, with volume falling from 5 953 t in 2018 to 4 574 t in 2022. The downturn began with a significant 7.1% cut in planted area for sweet potatoes in 2018, exacerbated by persistent productivity and market challenges highlighted the following year. The sector's dependence on small-scale subsistence farming, with its inherent low yields, provided little buffer against these pressures.

Further reductions occurred in the early 2020s, bringing the market to 4 980 t in 2021. This period saw regulatory changes from more effective political institutions, which approved an average of 18 laws annually between 2020 and 2022, reshaping the agricultural environment. Programs to train smallholders and agricultural service providers aimed at long-term rural development but did not offset immediate production losses.

A rebound to 4 978 t occurred in 2023, marking an 8.8% increase from the previous year. In 2024, authorities launched a strategic plan to develop agricultural processing, including for sweet potatoes, and committed to irrigation investments, while unfavorable weather conditions like drought and extreme heat impacted yields in key growing regions.

Production sweet potatoe in Timor-Leste

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Top producers of sweet potatoe, 2017-2020

World map of production of sweet potatoe, 2017-2020

Sweet potato production in Timor-Leste has declined for the third consecutive year. In 2020, the country produced 5,688 tonnes of sweet potatoes, representing a 1.5% decrease compared to 2019. Between 2017 and 2020, production fell by 6.7%, which translates to an annualized decline rate of 2.3%.

Annual dynamics of production in Timor-Leste in kind, 2017-2020, t

Exports sweet potatoe from Timor-Leste

According to industry studies, Timor-Leste did not export any sweet potatoes from 2017 to 2020.

Imports sweet potatoe to Timor-Leste

Imports in kind, kg

The market displayed significant volatility during the observed period. Imports reached their lowest point in 2017, then peaked in 2018 with a dramatic 335-fold increase between these two years. In 2020, sweet potato deliveries to Timor-Leste amounted to 590 kilograms, showing a modest year-over-year decline of 8.0%. The maximum volume was recorded in 2018 at 6,694 kilograms. The largest decline occurred in 2019 with a 90.4% drop, while the largest increase was recorded in 2018 with a staggering 33,367.5% surge.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Timor-Leste in kind, 2017-2020, kg

From 2017 to 2020, China remained the primary source for sweet potato imports to Timor-Leste, accounting for 88.2% of total import volumes. The remaining share was distributed among various smaller markets.

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

World map of product's imports to Timor-Leste in kind, 2017-2020

Imports in value, $ US

The market showed an unstable trend throughout the period. Imports hit their lowest point in 2017, then peaked in 2018 with a 224-fold difference between these years. In 2020, Timor-Leste imported a total of $782 worth of sweet potatoes, reflecting a sharp 53.9% reduction compared to the previous year. The maximum value was recorded in 2018 at $9,357. The largest decline occurred in 2019 with an 81.9% decrease, while the largest increase was recorded in 2018 with a remarkable 22,280.8% rise.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Timor-Leste in value, 2017-2020, $ US

Between 2017 and 2020, China dominated sweet potato imports to Timor-Leste in value terms, capturing 91.4% of total import flows.

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

World map of product's imports to Timor-Leste in value, 2017-2020