Market research

Yams market in Sub-Saharan Africa

Release date: Mar 27, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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"Sub-Saharan Africa" region includes following countries:

Cabo Verde

Benin

Gambia

Ghana

Guinea

Côte d'Ivoire

Liberia

Mali

Mauritania

Niger

Nigeria

Guinea-Bissau

Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha

Senegal

Sierra Leone

Togo

Burkina Faso

British Indian Ocean Territory

Burundi

Comoros

Mayotte

Ethiopia

Eritrea

French Southern Territories

Djibouti

Kenya

Madagascar

Malawi

Mauritius

Mozambique

Reunion

Rwanda

Seychelles

Somalia

Zimbabwe

South Sudan

Uganda

Tanzania

Zambia

Angola

Cameroon

Central African Republic

Chad

Congo

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Equatorial Guinea

Gabon

Sao Tome and Principe

Botswana

Lesotho

Namibia

South Africa

Eswatini

Earlier Report Observations

Yam production in Sub-Saharan Africa experienced a slight dip in 2019 to 75 109 thousand tons, influenced by high tuber costs and unfavorable weather conditions that hindered processing activities. However, output rebounded in 2020, rising to 78 915 thousand tons, as farmers increasingly processed yams into dried products to manage seasonal gluts and as new product segments like frozen yam chips gained traction, creating additional market outlets.

From 2021 onward, production expanded consistently, reaching 86 835 thousand tons by 2023. This sustained growth was primarily fueled by robust demand within Africa and from West African communities abroad, which opened up export markets and kept prices firm. While escalating transportation costs, farmer-herder conflicts, and general insecurity posed challenges to the supply chain, the strong market appetite continued to support higher production volumes.

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
1. 4.1. In kind
  1. 4.1.1. Production, 2018-2023
  2. 4.1.2. Imports, 2024
  3. 4.1.3. Exports, 2024
5. Production
1. 5.1. Production in Sub-Saharan Africa
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in Sub-Saharan Africa in kind, 2018-2023, K t
2. 5.2. Global production by Country, 2018-2023
  1. 5.2.1. Annual dynamics of production by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023, K 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, K 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 Cabo Verde in kind, 2024, t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Cabo Verde by countries, 2024, t
    3. 6.1.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2024
  3. 6.1.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Cabo Verde in value, 2024, K $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Cabo Verde by countries, 2024, K $ US
    3. 6.1.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 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 Cabo Verde, 2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Cabo Verde by countries, 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 Cabo Verde in kind, 2024, t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Cabo Verde by countries, 2024, t
    3. 6.2.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2024
  3. 6.2.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Cabo Verde in value, 2024, K $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Cabo Verde by countries, 2024, K $ US
    3. 6.2.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 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 Cabo Verde, 2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Cabo Verde by countries, 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 Cabo Verde in kind, 2024, t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Cabo Verde by countries, 2024, t
    3. 7.1.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2024
  3. 7.1.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Cabo Verde in value, 2024, K $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Cabo Verde by countries, 2024, K $ US
    3. 7.1.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 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 Cabo Verde, 2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Cabo Verde by countries, 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 Cabo Verde in kind, 2024, t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Cabo Verde by countries, 2024, t
    3. 7.2.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2024
  3. 7.2.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Cabo Verde in value, 2024, K $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Cabo Verde by countries, 2024, K $ US
    3. 7.2.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 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 Cabo Verde, 2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Cabo Verde by countries, 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, 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 Sub-Saharan Africa

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of yams, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of yams, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

In Sub-Saharan Africa, yam production reached 78,915 thousand tonnes in 2020, marking a 5.1% increase from the previous year. Looking at the period from 2017 to 2020, production grew by 12.3% overall, which translates to an average annual growth rate of 3.9%. The most significant drop occurred in 2019, with a decline of 1.4%, while the largest rise was seen in 2018, when production jumped by 8.4%.

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