Sweet potatoe market in Uganda

Earlier Report Observations

The Ugandan sweet potato market opened the period with a high volume of 1.48 million tonnes in 2018, supported by prior growth in root crop production capacity. However, the market contracted sharply to 1.07 million tonnes in 2019, though this year saw the increased popularity of orange-fleshed varieties for processing and the emergence of value-addition factories like Lishe in Gayaza. A partial recovery to 1.17 million tonnes occurred in 2020, as local investors established processing plants to buy directly from farmers, improving market access despite challenges from weather-related supply constraints and transport logistics.

Market volume continued to grow, reaching 1.29 million tonnes in 2021, driven by household budget pressures that led consumers to switch to more affordable staples like sweet potatoes. The expansion accelerated in 2022, with volume peaking at 1.54 million tonnes, aided by improved harvests, supply stabilization, and regulatory efforts to enhance seed certification and disease management for sweet potatoes.

In 2023, the market volume declined to 1.19 million tonnes, returning to levels similar to those earlier in the period.

Production sweet potatoe in Uganda

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

On a global scale, Uganda ranked as the 9th largest producer of sweet potatoes from 2017 to 2020.

Top producers of sweet potatoe, 2017-2020

World map of production of sweet potatoe, 2017-2020

After a two-year decline, Uganda's sweet potato production rebounded in 2020. That year, the country produced 1 167 thousand tonnes of sweet potatoes, marking an 8.9% increase from the previous year. However, over the entire 2017-2020 period, production fell by 39.5%, with a compound annual growth rate of -15.4%. The lowest production level was recorded in 2019 at 1 072 thousand tonnes, which also saw the largest decline of 27.8%.

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

Exports sweet potatoe from Uganda

Exports in kind, t

The data shows irregular changes, indicating a volatile market environment. Exports reached their lowest point in 2019 and peaked in 2017, with a 34-fold difference between these years. In 2020, Uganda exported 683.2 tonnes of sweet potatoes, representing a sharp increase of 2,415.4% compared to the previous year. The minimum value was recorded in 2019 at 27.2 tonnes, which also experienced the largest decline of 92.4%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Kenya remained the primary destination for sweet potato exports from Uganda, accounting for 78.2% of total exports in kind, while other destinations were much less significant.

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

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

Exports in value, K $ US

The market showed signs of volatility over the observed period. Export volumes fell to their lowest point in 2019 and peaked in 2020, with a 26-fold difference between these years. In 2020, Uganda exported sweet potatoes worth 182.1 thousand US dollars, which is 2,525.9% higher than the previous year. The minimum value was recorded in 2019 at 6.9 thousand US dollars, which also saw the largest decline of 87.2%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, the country structure of exports in value terms was strongly focused on Kenya, whose share reached 75.4% of total flows, with other partners accounting for the remaining volume.

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

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

Imports sweet potatoe to Uganda

Imports in kind, t

There were noticeable fluctuations in market performance during the period. Imports peaked in 2019 and reached their lowest point in 2017, with a 4.9-fold difference between these years. In 2020, cross-border shipments of sweet potatoes to Uganda stood at 1.2 tonnes, down by 5.5% compared to the previous year. The maximum value was recorded in 2019 at 1.3 tonnes, while the largest increase occurred in 2018 at 335.7%.

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

Over the 2017-2020 period, imports in kind of sweet potatoes to Uganda were heavily concentrated on South Africa and China, whose combined share reached 100.0% of total flows.

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

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

Imports in value, K $ US

The market exhibited an unstable trend throughout the timeframe. Import volumes dropped to a minimum in 2017 and climbed to their maximum in 2019, an 8.1-fold shift. In 2020, Uganda's volume of sweet potato imports was recorded at 0.5 thousand US dollars, down by 39.1% year-over-year. The maximum value was recorded in 2019 at 0.9 thousand US dollars, while the largest increase occurred in 2018 at 642.9%.

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

Throughout 2017-2020, South Africa and China were the principal sources for imports in value terms, their joint share reaching 100.0% of total flows.

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

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