Egypt – In the 2023/24 season (July 2023 – May 2024), Egypt exported 109,000 tons of sweet potatoes to the EU, setting monthly records consistently since August of the previous year.

This season, Egypt achieved a new milestone by surpassing the USA in sweet potato exports to the EU, according to EastFruit.

This accomplishment is a major milestone for Egyptian exporters, as the new export record seemed likely by the end of last year.

Egyptian exports to the EU grew by 45% compared to the previous season and nearly tenfold from the 2018/19 season.

The Netherlands remained the top market for Egyptian sweet potatoes in the EU, though its share dropped from 70-78% to 62%.

This decline suggests a rise in direct consumers of Egyptian products. The Netherlands increased its imports of Egyptian sweet potatoes by 29%, while Romania and Italy saw increases of 50-60%, and France by 70%.

Additionally, Slovenia doubled its imports, Germany nearly tripled, and Spain nearly quintupled its imports.

June trade data might slightly reduce the gap between American and Egyptian exports, as the USA typically imports actively during this month.

However, this data is unlikely to change the overall situation significantly, confirming that Egypt has outpaced the USA in sweet potato exports to the EU for the first time.

The surge in Egyptian exports has driven steady demand for imported sweet potatoes in the EU, as the USA has significantly reduced its market presence.

From July 2023 to May 2024, the EU imported a record 219,000 tons of sweet potatoes, with nearly half coming from Egypt. In contrast, the USA exported only 78,000 tons to the EU, a decrease of over a third from the previous season.

Looking ahead, conditions for US exporters in the EU market are expected to worsen due to increasing competition from Egypt.

In the 2023-2024 period, American suppliers faced further challenges as Egyptian products became more competitive due to the rapid devaluation of the Egyptian pound.

Meanwhile, declining sweet potato production in the USA and farmers shifting to more profitable crops have contributed to a drop in US exports, from 301,000 tons in 2018 to 254,000 tons by 2023. 

Liked this article? Sign up to receive our email newsletters with the latest news updates and insights from Africa and the World HERE