Global Yams Market 2025

Yams Market Size

The global yams market shrank modestly to $X in 2022, falling by -3.1% against the previous year. The market value increased at an average annual rate of +1.0% over the period from 2012 to 2022; however, the trend pattern remained consistent, with only minor fluctuations being observed throughout the analyzed period. As a result, consumption reached the peak level of $X. From 2014 to 2022, the growth of the global market remained at a lower figure.

Yams Production

In value terms, yams production declined to $X in 2022 estimated in export price. In general, production saw a relatively flat trend pattern. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2013 when the production volume increased by 50%. As a result, production reached the peak level of $X. From 2014 to 2022, global production growth remained at a somewhat lower figure.

Nigeria (X tons) constituted the country with the largest volume of yams production, comprising approx. 67% of total volume. Moreover, yams production in Nigeria exceeded the figures recorded by the second-largest producer, Ghana (X tons), sixfold. The third position in this ranking was held by Cote d'Ivoire (X tons), with a 10% share.

In Nigeria, yams production increased at an average annual rate of +4.5% over the period from 2012-2022. The remaining producing countries recorded the following average annual rates of production growth: Ghana (+2.4% per year) and Cote d'Ivoire (+3.2% per year).

The global average yams yield reduced slightly to X tons per ha in 2022, which is down by -1.6% compared with the year before. Over the period under review, the yield, however, saw a relatively flat trend pattern. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2014 when the yield increased by 8.8% against the previous year. The global yield peaked at X tons per ha in 2018; however, from 2019 to 2022, the yield stood at a somewhat lower figure. Despite the increased use of modern agricultural techniques and methods, future yield figures may still be impacted by adverse weather conditions.

The global yams harvested area stood at X ha in 2022, standing approx. at 2021. The harvested area increased at an average annual rate of +2.9% from 2012 to 2022; the trend pattern remained relatively stable, with somewhat noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2019 when the harvested area increased by 18%. As a result, the harvested area attained the peak level of X ha. From 2020 to 2022, the growth of the global yams harvested area remained at a lower figure.

Yams Exports

Exports

In 2022, after six years of growth, there was significant decline in shipments abroad of yams, when their volume decreased by -6.8% to X tons. Over the period under review, total exports indicated buoyant growth from 2012 to 2022: its volume increased at an average annual rate of +6.7% over the last decade. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2013 when exports increased by 22% against the previous year. Over the period under review, the global exports hit record highs at X tons in 2021, and then declined in the following year.

In value terms, yams exports shrank to $X in 2022. The total export value increased at an average annual rate of +4.8% over the period from 2012 to 2022; however, the trend pattern indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded in certain years. The growth pace was the most rapid in 2013 when exports increased by 29%. Over the period under review, the global exports hit record highs at $X in 2021, and then contracted in the following year.

Exports by Country

In 2022, Ghana (X tons) represented the major exporter of yams, creating 35% of total exports. It was distantly followed by Jamaica (X tons), the United States (X tons), Colombia (X tons), China (X tons), Costa Rica (X tons), India (X tons), Japan (X tons) and Brazil (X tons), together generating a 55% share of total exports.

Exports from Ghana increased at an average annual rate of +9.9% from 2012 to 2022. At the same time, Brazil (+58.5%), Colombia (+16.9%), India (+9.3%), China (+6.2%), Japan (+5.2%), Jamaica (+4.8%) and the United States (+3.1%) displayed positive paces of growth. Moreover, Brazil emerged as the fastest-growing exporter exported in the world, with a CAGR of +58.5% from 2012-2022. By contrast, Costa Rica (-6.1%) illustrated a downward trend over the same period. From 2012 to 2022, the share of Ghana, India, Brazil and Colombia increased by +8.9, +5.4, +4.5 and +4.3 percentage points, respectively. The shares of the other countries remained relatively stable throughout the analyzed period.

In value terms, the largest yams supplying countries worldwide were Ghana ($X), Jamaica ($X) and China ($X), with a combined 55% share of global exports. The United States, Japan, Costa Rica, Colombia, Brazil and India lagged somewhat behind, together comprising a further 36%.

Brazil, with a CAGR of +56.2%, recorded the highest rates of growth with regard to the value of exports, among the main exporting countries over the period under review, while shipments for the other global leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Export Prices by Country

In 2022, the average yams export price amounted to $X per ton, with an increase of 1.8% against the previous year. In general, the export price, however, continues to indicate a mild slump. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2016 an increase of 6.4% against the previous year. Over the period under review, the average export prices hit record highs at $X per ton in 2014; however, from 2015 to 2022, the export prices stood at a somewhat lower figure.

There were significant differences in the average prices amongst the major exporting countries. In 2022, amid the top suppliers, the country with the highest price was Japan ($X per ton), while India ($X per ton) was amongst the lowest.

From 2012 to 2022, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by the United States (+3.9%), while the other global leaders experienced mixed trends in the export price figures.

Yams Imports

Imports

In 2022, after two years of growth, there was significant decline in purchases abroad of yams, when their volume decreased by -6.1% to X tons. Overall, total imports indicated a prominent increase from 2012 to 2022: its volume increased at an average annual rate of +5.2% over the last decade. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2020 when imports increased by 21% against the previous year. Over the period under review, global imports attained the peak figure at X tons in 2021, and then contracted in the following year.

In value terms, yams imports dropped slightly to $X in 2022. The total import value increased at an average annual rate of +4.1% from 2012 to 2022; however, the trend pattern indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded in certain years. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2013 with an increase of 20%. Global imports peaked at $X in 2021, and then shrank in the following year.

Imports by Country

The United States represented the major importing country with an import of around X tons, which reached 39% of total imports. Canada (X tons) ranks second in terms of the total imports with a 13% share, followed by the UK (10%), the United Arab Emirates (5.3%) and France (5.2%). South Africa (X tons), Malaysia (X tons), the Netherlands (X tons), Taiwan (Chinese) (X tons), Singapore (X tons) and Italy (X tons) followed a long way behind the leaders.

From 2012 to 2022, average annual rates of growth with regard to yams imports into the United States stood at +4.4%. At the same time, South Africa (+42.6%), Malaysia (+9.7%), the United Arab Emirates (+8.2%), France (+5.1%), Italy (+4.8%), Canada (+3.1%), the UK (+3.1%), Taiwan (Chinese) (+2.1%), Singapore (+1.8%) and the Netherlands (+1.8%) displayed positive paces of growth. Moreover, South Africa emerged as the fastest-growing importer imported in the world, with a CAGR of +42.6% from 2012-2022. South Africa (+3.6 p.p.) significantly strengthened its position in terms of the global imports, while the UK, the United States and Canada saw its share reduced by -2.3%, -2.9% and -3% from 2012 to 2022, respectively. The shares of the other countries remained relatively stable throughout the analyzed period.

In value terms, the United States ($X) constitutes the largest market for imported yams worldwide, comprising 43% of global imports. The second position in the ranking was held by Canada ($X), with a 17% share of global imports. It was followed by the UK, with a 7.2% share.

In the United States, yams imports increased at an average annual rate of +3.9% over the period from 2012-2022. The remaining importing countries recorded the following average annual rates of imports growth: Canada (+7.3% per year) and the UK (+2.6% per year).

Import Prices by Country

In 2022, the average yams import price amounted to $X per ton, increasing by 5.7% against the previous year. Overall, the import price, however, continues to indicate a mild shrinkage. Global import price peaked at $X per ton in 2013; however, from 2014 to 2022, import prices stood at a somewhat lower figure.

There were significant differences in the average prices amongst the major importing countries. In 2022, amid the top importers, the country with the highest price was Taiwan (Chinese) ($X per ton), while the United Arab Emirates ($X per ton) was amongst the lowest.

From 2012 to 2022, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Canada (+4.1%), while the other global leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Source: IndexBox Platform

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