Market research

Taro market in Tonga

Release date: Mar 27, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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Earlier Report Observations

From 2018 to 2020, Tonga's taro market volume fluctuated as export activity shifted. In 2018, the EU-funded HANGO Agricultural College Project in ‘Eua supported the development of the agriculture sector, including root crops like taro, while better harvest conditions led to increased exports. This growth in exports reduced domestic availability, contributing to a lower market volume in 2019. The Tonga Stock Assessment and Harvest Strategy Workshop in 2020 highlighted ongoing government and regional cooperation in resource management, which may have helped stabilize the sector.

After 2020, the domestic taro market expanded significantly, driven by a sharp decline in exports. The Household Income and Expenditure Survey conducted in 2021 provided updated consumption data that could inform market understanding. With exports falling from 1 491 t in 2021 to just 203 t in 2023, more production was retained for local consumption, pushing the market volume up to 3 366 t in 2023 despite a slight dip in production in 2022.

By 2024, climate change impacts began affecting taro supply, with reported shortages in Tongatapu leading to higher prices. The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Forests remained actively involved in the sector, and plans for a centralized night food market in Nuku’alofa aimed to boost local food sales. Additionally, a growing emphasis on climate-resilient crops like breadfruit indicated a shift in agricultural preferences, which could influence future taro production and consumption patterns.

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 Tonga
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in Tonga in kind, 2018-2023, t
  2. 5.1.2. Annual dynamics of production in Tonga in value, 2018-2023, $ US
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 Tonga in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Tonga 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 Tonga in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Tonga 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/kg
    1. 6.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Tonga, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Tonga by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
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 Tonga in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Tonga 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 Tonga in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Tonga 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/kg
    1. 6.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Tonga, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Tonga by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
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 Tonga in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Tonga 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 Tonga in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Tonga 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/kg
    1. 7.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Tonga, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Tonga by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
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 Tonga in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Tonga 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 Tonga in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Tonga 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/kg
    1. 7.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Tonga, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Tonga by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
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 Tonga

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

Tonga's taro production has grown for the third year in a row. In 2020, the country produced 3 693 tonnes of taro, marking a 1.5% increase from the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, production rose by 6.8%, with an average annual growth rate of 2.2%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	3.1%	2.0%	1.5%	2.2%

Source: SHEV.io

Exports taro from Tonga

Exports in kind, t

Taro exports from Tonga showed significant fluctuations during this period. Exports reached their lowest point in 2017 and peaked in 2019, with a threefold difference between these years. In 2020, exports totaled 1 257 tonnes, down 3.2% from 2019. The highest volume was recorded in 2019 at 1 299 tonnes, which also saw the largest annual increase of 75.9%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	70.4%	75.9%	(3.2%)	42.6%

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, New Zealand and Australia together accounted for 82.0% of Tonga's taro exports by volume, while the remaining exports were distributed across various other markets.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, K $ US

After two years of growth, Tonga's taro exports in value terms declined. In 2020, exports were valued at 389.9 thousand US dollars, a decrease of 22.8% compared to 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, exports increased by 54.4%, equivalent to an annualized growth rate of 15.6%. The peak value was in 2019 at 504.9 thousand US dollars, with the largest annual increase occurring in 2018 at 69.4%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	69.4%	18.0%	(22.8%)	15.6%

Source: SHEV.io

Between 2017 and 2020, New Zealand, Australia, and the United States were consistently the main destinations for Tonga's taro exports by value. New Zealand accounted for 55.2%, Australia for 24.4%, and the United States for 19.4%, together making up 99.0% of total export value.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports taro to Tonga

Imports in kind, t

In 2020, Tonga's taro imports amounted to 6 tonnes, showing only a slight change from the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, imports surged by 1 058.8%, translating to an average annual growth rate of 126.3%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	n/a	n/a	n/a	126.3%

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, Fiji was the primary source for Tonga's taro imports by volume, representing 7.9% of total imports.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, K $ US

In 2020, taro imports to Tonga were valued at 1.4 thousand US dollars, showing little change from 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, imports decreased by 52%, with an average annual decline of 21.7%.

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