Market research

Taro market in Polynesia

Release date: Mar 27, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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File format: docx, xlsx

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"Polynesia" region includes following countries:

American Samoa

Cook Islands

French Polynesia

Niue

Pitcairn Islands

Tokelau

Tonga

Tuvalu

Wallis and Futuna Islands

Samoa

Earlier Report Observations

Taro is a traditional staple crop in Polynesia, deeply embedded in local agriculture and cuisine, which sustained steady demand. The market volume started at 26 359 tonnes in 2018 but dropped sharply to 19 547 tonnes in 2019. A recovery began in 2020, with volume rising to 24 249 tonnes, partly driven by public health initiatives that emphasized the nutritional value of local starches like taro under the 2024-2034 Food Transition Plan.

Despite taro accounting for 59% of staple food sales in key local markets like Papeete in 2021, the overall market volume dipped to 22 351 tonnes that year. The market then entered a gradual upward trend, reaching 23 293 tonnes in 2022 and 24 850 tonnes in 2023, reflecting sustained consumption.

By 2024, new consumer protection regulations requiring clear labeling, pricing display, and regular price monitoring for food products came into effect, shaping the commercial environment for taro. Local markets remained vital distribution channels, supporting the product's accessibility.

Table of content

1. Disclaimer
2. Terms of use of the report
3. Product codes in the statistical classifications used in the report
4. Key Market Indicators and Trends
1. 4.1. Key Market Indicators
  1. 4.1.1. In kind
    1. 4.1.1.1. Production, 2018-2023
    2. 4.1.1.2. Imports, 2018-2024
    3. 4.1.1.3. Exports, 2018-2024
    4. 4.1.1.4. Market size, 2018-2023
2. 4.2. Market Trends and Factors
5. Production
1. 5.1. Production in Polynesia
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in Polynesia in kind, 2018-2023, t
2. 5.2. Global production by Country, 2018-2023
  1. 5.2.1. Annual dynamics of production by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023, t
  2. 5.2.2. Dynamics of production structure by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023
  3. 5.2.3. Annual dynamics of production by country in kind, 2018-2023, t
  4. 5.2.4. Structure of production by countries in kind, 2018-2023
  5. 5.2.5. Dynamics of peoduction structure by countries in kind, 2018-2023
6. Imports
1. 6.1. Imports (Direct Data*)
  1. 6.1.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 6.1.2. Imports in kind, t
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to American Samoa in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to American Samoa by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 6.1.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.1.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to American Samoa in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to American Samoa by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 6.1.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.1.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 6.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to American Samoa, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to American Samoa by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
2. 6.2. Imports (Mirror Data)
  1. 6.2.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 6.2.2. Imports in kind, t
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to American Samoa in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to American Samoa by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 6.2.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.2.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to American Samoa in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to American Samoa by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 6.2.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.2.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 6.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to American Samoa, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to American Samoa by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
7. Exports
1. 7.1. Exports (Direct Data*)
  1. 7.1.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 7.1.2. Exports in kind, t
    1. 7.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from American Samoa in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from American Samoa by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 7.1.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.1.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from American Samoa in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from American Samoa by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 7.1.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.1.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 7.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from American Samoa, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from American Samoa by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
2. 7.2. Exports (Mirror Data)
  1. 7.2.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 7.2.2. Exports in kind, t
    1. 7.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from American Samoa in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from American Samoa by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 7.2.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.2.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from American Samoa in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from American Samoa by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 7.2.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.2.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 7.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from American Samoa, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from American Samoa by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
8. Trade balance
1. 8.1. Trade balance (Direct Data)
  1. 8.1.1. In kind, t
  2. 8.1.2. In value, K $ US
2. 8.2. Trade balance (Mirror Data)
  1. 8.2.1. In kind, t
  2. 8.2.2. In value, K $ US
9. Top buying and selling countries, 2018-2024
1. 9.1. Direct Data
  1. 9.1.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.1.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers
2. 9.2. Mirror Data
  1. 9.2.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.2.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers

Production taro in Polynesia

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Top producers of taro, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of taro, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Polynesia's taro production increased after two years of decline. In 2020, production reached 26 873 tonnes, marking a 20.3% increase compared to the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, production decreased by 9.9%, with a compound annual growth rate of 3.4%. The lowest production level was recorded in 2019 at 22 332 tonnes, which also saw the largest decline of 20.8%.

Annual dynamics of production in Polynesia in kind, 2017-2020, t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(5.5%)	(20.8%)	20.3%	(3.4%)

Source: SHEV.io

In value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Polynesia's taro production value increased following two years of decline. In 2020, the output was valued at 30 247 thousand US dollars, representing a significant 42.2% rise compared to 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, production value decreased by 25.2%, with a compound annual growth rate of 9.2%. The lowest value was recorded in 2019 at 21 265 thousand US dollars, which also experienced the largest decline of 29.7%.

Annual dynamics of production in Polynesia in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(25.2%)	(29.7%)	42.2%	(9.2%)

Source: SHEV.io

Exports taro from Polynesia

Exports in kind, t

In 2020, taro exports from Polynesia amounted to 2 646 tonnes, showing a 5.3% decrease compared to the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, exports increased by 42.5%, with a compound annual growth rate of 12.5%. The lowest export volume was recorded in 2018 at 1 840 tonnes, while the highest was in 2019 at 2 795 tonnes, which also saw the largest increase of 51.9%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(0.9%)	51.9%	(5.3%)	12.5%

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, New Zealand was the leading destination for Polynesia's taro exports in volume terms, accounting for 71.4% of total flows, with the remainder distributed among other partners.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, K $ US

Polynesia's taro export value increased for the second consecutive year. In 2020, exports stood at 2 978 thousand US dollars, reflecting a strong 11.9% year-on-year increase. Over the 2017-2020 period, export value rose by 18.3%, with a compound annual growth rate of 5.8%. The lowest value was recorded in 2018 at 1 975 thousand US dollars, which saw the largest decline of 21.6%, while the largest increase of 34.7% occurred in 2019.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(21.6%)	34.7%	11.9%	5.8%

Source: SHEV.io

Throughout 2017-2020, New Zealand dominated Polynesia's taro export structure in value terms, holding a 77.6% share of total flows, while other markets had comparatively modest shares.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports taro to Polynesia

Imports in kind, t

Taro imports into Polynesia showed noticeable fluctuations during the period. In 2020, imports reached 22 tonnes, representing a sharp 144.1% increase compared to 2019. The lowest import level was recorded in 2017, with imports peaking in 2020, showing a 4.2-fold difference between these years. The largest decline was recorded in 2019 at 13.6%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	100.2%	(13.6%)	144.1%	61.6%

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, Fiji accounted for the main share of taro imports into Polynesia in volume terms, representing 86.1% of total flows.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, K $ US

Polynesia's taro import value increased for the third consecutive year. In 2020, imports were recorded at 37 thousand US dollars, indicating a sharp 48.1% year-on-year improvement. Over the 2017-2020 period, import value grew by 165.6%, with a compound annual growth rate of 38.5%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	54.4%	16.1%	48.1%	38.5%

Source: SHEV.io

In 2017-2020, the geographical pattern of taro imports into Polynesia in value terms reflected a strong dependence on Fiji, which accounted for 98.5% of total flows.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io