Market research

Yams market in Panama

Release date: Mar 27, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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Earlier Report Observations

The market for fresh, chilled, frozen, or dried yams in Panama demonstrated strong and consistent growth from 2018 to 2023. Production volume increased from 13 340 t to 26 063 t, while the total market size expanded from 13 278 t to 26 169 t over the same period, effectively doubling in scale.

This expansion was notably supported in 2023 by significant improvements in the national cold chain infrastructure. The Mercados Nacionales de la Cadena de Frío achieved 100% transparency monitoring, which enhanced the distribution efficiency and quality preservation of perishable goods like yams. Concurrently, the operations of Merca Panamá, with its dedicated facilities for processing and commercialization, provided better post-harvest handling, increasing the reliable supply of fresh and frozen products to the market.

The positive trajectory was further reinforced by broader economic conditions and strategic initiatives. Panama's economic growth and rising exports of fresh and frozen products created a favorable environment. Furthermore, PROPANAMA's active promotion of value-added agricultural products on international markets aimed to bolster the export potential for processed yams, aligning with continued consumer preference for quality fresh and frozen goods.

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

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Top producers of yams, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of yams, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Panama's yam production has grown for the third year in a row. In 2020, the country produced 21 473 tonnes of yams, marking a significant increase of 37.9% compared to 2019. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, production rose by 93.7%, with an average annual growth rate of 24.6%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	20.3%	16.7%	37.9%	24.6%

Source: SHEV.io

Exports yams from Panama

Exports in kind, kg

In 2020, Panama's cross-border shipments of yams amounted to 74 841 kilograms, remaining broadly stable compared to the previous year. Between 2018 and 2020, exports increased by 10.3%, which translates to an annualized growth rate of 3.3%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Panama in kind, 2017-2020, kg

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

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, two key markets—France and the United States—dominated Panama's yam exports in volume, together accounting for 100.0% of total shipments.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, $ US

In 2020, the value of yam deliveries from Panama totaled 45 100 US dollars, showing little change from the previous year. Between 2018 and 2020, exports decreased by 22.2%, equivalent to an annualized decline of 8.0%.

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

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

Source: SHEV.io

Throughout 2017–2020, the United States and France were the core markets for Panama's yam exports in value terms, together making up 100.0% of total flows.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports yams to Panama

Imports in kind, kg

The import market showed an unstable trend during this period. Imports reached their lowest point in 2018 at 5 797 kilograms, with the largest decline that year of 36.4%. They then surged in 2019 by 171.9%, the largest increase, and peaked in 2020 at 16 516 kilograms, a controlled gain of 4.8% from the prior year. The gap between the peak in 2020 and the trough in 2018 was 2.8-fold.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(36.4%)	171.9%	4.8%	21.9%

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, China almost entirely determined the geographical structure of yam imports to Panama in volume, with a share of 99.6% of total flows.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, $ US

The data reveals irregular changes, indicating a volatile market environment. Imports hit their lowest value in 2018 at 4 668 US dollars, with the largest decline that year of 4.0%. They then saw the largest increase in 2019 of 162.9%, and peaked in 2020 at 14 839 US dollars, a strong rise of 20.9% year-over-year. The gap between the peak in 2020 and the trough in 2018 was 3.2-fold.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(4.0%)	162.9%	20.9%	45.1%

Source: SHEV.io

Over the period 2017–2020, the structure of yam imports to Panama in value terms was dominated by a single market: China, which accounted for 99.4% of total flows.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io