The prevailing feeling is that structural changes in the economy are slow to materialize, and much remains to be accomplished in this area. Even so, official data suggests that Angola produces twice as many sweet potatoes as Brazil and exports tomatoes worth more than USD 5.7 million in just the first six months of 2025.
In 10 product lines analyzed by Expansão—including vegetables, fruits, and salt—the discrepancies between figures from the National Bank of Angola (BNA) and the General Tax Administration (AGT) are striking. In 2024, for example, the BNA reported exports worth USD 98.6 million across the categories “Agricultural and Forestry Products” and “Foodstuffs,” while AGT reported USD 148.0 million in the category “Agricultural and Food Products” for the same period—a difference of USD 40 million. Entrepreneurs and industry sources express the same doubts about agricultural production data, arguing that the lack of reliable statistics hampers export growth and the implementation of a consistent strategy for the sector.
Official indicators on agricultural production, which also serve as sources for the global database compiled by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), place the country among the world’s top producers of several crops—such as bananas, pineapples, cassava, and sweet potatoes. In fact, Angola appears to produce more than twice as many sweet potatoes as Brazil, for instance—a claim that raises doubts among operators and specialists.
The discrepancy between BNA and AGT on agricultural and food exports is longstanding: in 2024, the central bank recorded USD 98.6 million, while AGT reported USD 148.0 million. In 2023, BNA disclosed USD 121.9 million, but AGT registered USD 168.9 million. In 2022, BNA cited USD 82.3 million, while AGT reported USD 117.7 million.
Beyond bananas, sweet potatoes, pineapples, and cassava, Expansão compiled data on domestic production, exports, and international comparisons for tomatoes, onions, potatoes, beans, salt, and mango/guava (see infographics on the following pages).
Last year, exports of the 10 products analyzed brought in around USD 10 million, according to AGT (BNA does not publish partial data). Bananas accounted for 35%, or USD 3.5 million. Here too, doubts linger over AGT’s data, which show a sharp increase in the first half of 2025, to USD 3.9 million, despite market information pointing to difficulties in banana exports.
In just the first half of 2025, exports of the 10 products selected by Expansão already exceeded the total value achieved in all of the previous year—reaching USD 10.4 million between January and June. This growth was driven by the exponential rise in tomato exports, which jumped from 1 ton in 2022 (worth USD 5,340) to USD 5.7 million (equivalent to 1,220 tons) in just six months of 2025, according to AGT.
“In some cases, the figures do not match the actual production volumes we see in circulation. I’m not so surprised by the increase in tomato exports, but the timing of these exports must at least coincide with periods of high volume and low prices—when exports are most attractive. Even so, these indicators must be analyzed alongside other variables not presented, such as the origin and destination of the exported tomatoes,” argued Wanderley Ribeiro, president of the Angola Agro-Livestock Association (AAPA).
Although not directly comparable with AGT’s figures, since they cover only the first quarter of 2025, BNA recorded USD 21.5 million in exports in the categories “Agricultural and Forestry Products” and “Foodstuffs.”
Alongside these statistical discrepancies and weaknesses—which prevent a full understanding of the agricultural sector’s true scope and reality—are structural obstacles that hinder exponential growth in domestic production, improvements in food security and nutrition, and the definition of strategies to boost agricultural exports.
Lack of Focus
These strategies require regional and international studies on potential destination markets for Angolan products and the imposition of quality measures to meet sanitary and competitive standards in those markets (including the possibility of government subsidies to mitigate risks and attract private investment). This is especially relevant in value chains where Angola is self-sufficient (bananas, for example) or in products with low domestic consumption but strong international demand (such as pineapples or coffee, among others). Tomatoes, mangoes, cassava, and beans are other crops with export potential.
Logistical and transportation solutions are also lacking, as freight prices in Angola are higher than in other regions. Not to mention land access—few private investors are willing to invest in agriculture on land they do not own. “In other words, everything still remains to be done,” a source linked to the sector told Expansão.
Despite the millions of dollars reported by BNA and AGT in agricultural and food exports, the share of this category in total exports in 2024 was just 0.4%, amounting to USD 36.898 billion (94.2% of exports came from petroleum products, worth USD 34.760 billion). This structure of external trade reveals the poor diversification of the economy and the lack of focus and effectiveness of public policies.
As for the destination of Angolan products, China, India, Spain, Indonesia, and France together accounted for 70.1% of total exports in 2024. The Chinese market remained the main customer, with a 45.5% share (a drop of 5.1% compared to 2023). India ranked second. All these trading partners purchase only crude oil.
In the view of Wanderley Ribeiro, the export dynamic needs stronger leadership, while Angola’s participation in international trade fairs “must be encouraged and co-financed by the State, in close coordination with the private sector, as is currently the case with FILDA.”
“If we want to improve the quality of our interventions in the international export arena, the narrative must above all be led by the private sector, which must comply with the requirements of destination markets, even if there are cases of regional exports with lower standards,” Ribeiro believes.
Expansão , 18/08/2025
