Current Market Overview
The Chinese sweet potato price is experiencing a supply-demand imbalance, where premium quality commands higher prices, and the overall trend remains stable with a slight upward bias. Due to declining inventories, varying harvesting schedules, and differences in procurement demand, regional price fluctuations are evident.
Supply Side
Declining Stock in Major Production Areas – Key regions like Shandong, Anhui, Hebei, and Henan have almost exhausted their stored supplies, leading to a strong holding sentiment among suppliers and intensified supply-demand tension.
Southern New Harvest Filling the Gap – Early varieties from the southern provinces, such as Zhanjiang’s Xigua Hong, are entering the market. However, transportation costs and quality differences create price stratification between regions.
Demand Side
Strong Retail & E-commerce Demand for Premium Sweet Potatoes – Supermarkets and online platforms continue to support high-end varieties like Yan Shu 25 and Xigua Hong, maintaining their premium pricing.
Mixed Acceptance for Standard Grades – Small and mid-sized buyers prefer regular-grade sweet potatoes, but with declining stock, bargaining power is limited.
Price Trends & Forecast
Current Prices
Average price: 1.5 CNY/kg (~ $0.21/kg | €0.19/kg)
Southern region bulk sales price: 1.2 CNY/kg (~ $0.17/kg | €0.15/kg)
Short-term Outlook
Stored sweet potatoes will continue to command a strong price, given the tightening supply.
New early-maturing varieties (e.g., Xigua Hong) are gradually entering the market, with a moderate price increase at the farm level.
Regional Price Variations – Premium varieties maintain high quotes, while standard and lower-quality sweet potatoes show greater price fluctuations due to supply-demand mismatches.
Market Strategy for Buyers
Shift procurement focus to Guangdong and Guangxi from April onward to mitigate dependence on high-priced northern stock.
Grade-based purchasing – Adjust procurement strategy based on sales channels (premium for e-commerce/supermarkets, regular for wholesale buyers).
Inventory & cost management – Balance stock levels dynamically to hedge against short-term price volatility.
The Chinese sweet potato market is currently in a transition phase, where northern storage supplies are depleting, and southern fresh harvests are supplementing demand. Given the strong preference for premium-quality sweet potatoes, overall price levels are likely to remain firm with a slight upward bias in the near term.