Vegetable puree market in Sub-Saharan Africa

Earlier Report Observations

The vegetable puree market in Sub-Saharan Africa contracted from over 5 000 t in 2018 to under 3 000 t by 2021. This decline was influenced by slow modernization of traditional food processing, persistent marketing challenges for smallholder farmers, and food safety concerns in fresh produce supply chains. Limited investment in breeding and seed systems for traditional vegetables, along with a fragmented processing sector, further constrained production and market volume.

A recovery began in 2022, with the market growing to nearly 5 000 t again by 2023. This rebound aligned with the emergence of dried and processed vegetable products using natural preservation methods like freeze-drying, which catered to urban consumers' demand for convenience and longer shelf life. The upturn was also supported by policy shifts incorporating such processed foods into emergency reserves and a consumer preference shift toward products with recognizable whole-food ingredients and minimal additives.

Production vegetable puree in Sub-Saharan Africa

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Top producers of vegetable puree, 2017-2020

World map of production of vegetable puree, 2017-2020

In Sub-Saharan Africa, vegetable puree production reached 3,643 tonnes in 2020, marking a 9.3% increase from the previous year. However, looking at the broader period from 2017 to 2020, production actually declined by 10.8%, which translates to an average annual decrease of 3.7%. The lowest production level was recorded in 2019 at 3,334 tonnes, while the peak occurred in 2018 with 4,086 tonnes. The most significant drop in production happened in 2019, when output fell by 18.4%.

Annual dynamics of production in Sub-Saharan Africa in kind, 2017-2020, t

Exports vegetable puree from Sub-Saharan Africa

Exports in kind, t

The market exhibited notable volatility during the observed period. In 2017, exports reached their highest level, while 2018 saw the lowest, with a dramatic 159-fold difference between these peak and trough values. In 2020, Sub-Saharan Africa's vegetable puree exports totaled 898 tonnes, representing a 16.5% decrease compared to 2019. The minimum export volume was recorded in 2018 at just 9 tonnes. That same year also experienced the largest decline of 99.4%. In contrast, 2019 witnessed the most substantial increase, with exports surging by 11,453.8%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Sub-Saharan Africa in kind, 2017-2020, t

From 2017 to 2020, Special Categories held the leading position in Sub-Saharan Africa's vegetable puree exports by volume, accounting for 0.6% of the total.

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

World map of product's exports from Sub-Saharan Africa in kind, 2017-2020

Exports in value, K $ US

Foreign vegetable puree supplies from Sub-Saharan Africa declined for the third consecutive year. In 2020, exports were valued at 2,453 thousand US dollars, reflecting a significant decrease of 15.9% compared to the previous year. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, exports fell by 33.2%, which corresponds to an average annual decline of 12.6%.

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

Between 2017 and 2020, Special Categories led the ranking of buyers for Sub-Saharan Africa's vegetable puree in value terms, capturing 0.9% of total export flows.

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

World map of product's exports from Sub-Saharan Africa in value, 2017-2020

Imports vegetable puree to Sub-Saharan Africa

Imports in kind, t

The market demonstrated considerable volatility over the observed period. Import volumes peaked in 2017 and then dropped to their lowest point in 2018, showing a 2.4-fold shift between these years. In 2020, imported vegetable puree volumes in Sub-Saharan Africa stood at 1,202 tonnes, which is 39.4% lower than in 2019. The minimum import volume was recorded in 2018 at 1,074 tonnes. That year also saw the largest decline of 58.4%. Conversely, 2019 experienced the most significant increase, with imports rising by 84.7%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Sub-Saharan Africa in kind, 2017-2020, t

Data from 2017 to 2020 indicate that imports of vegetable puree to Sub-Saharan Africa were not heavily concentrated among a few key destinations. France, with 12.3% of imports by volume, China at 12.0%, and Italy with 5.8%, together accounted for only 30.1% of total flows.

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

World map of product's imports to Sub-Saharan Africa in kind, 2017-2020

Imports in value, K $ US

In 2020, Sub-Saharan Africa's vegetable puree imports were valued at 3,049 thousand US dollars, down by 23.1% year-on-year. Between 2017 and 2020, imports decreased by 28.2%, equating to an average annual decline of 10.5%. The largest increase occurred in 2019, with imports rising by 18.3%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, imports of vegetable puree to Sub-Saharan Africa in value terms were distributed across many countries. France accounted for 13.9% of imports by value, China for 4.9%, and Italy for 2.7%, with these three countries jointly representing only 21.4% of total flows.

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

World map of product's imports to Sub-Saharan Africa in value, 2017-2020