Tropical fruits, beverage crops, sugar and raw materials contribute significantly to the economies of many developing countries, particularly the least-developed countries (LDCs), as a major source of livelihood and income for millions of rural smallholders. In 2014, the value of world production of these commodities was estimated at USD 255 billion, while global trade value was worth some USD 75 billion. The reliance on these agricultural primary commodities for export earnings highlights the necessity to understand the fundamentals that drive their markets as well as to identify the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead. Market expansion opportunities have been important over the last decade. Evidence shows a marked growth in demand for tropical fruits, beverages, sugar and raw material products, driven by gains in per capita income, population growth and shifts in consumer preferences. In the case of tea and tropical fruits, well-publicized scientific studies underlying the health benefits associated with their consumption have been instrumental in boosting demand. Consumption of tea has been expanding notably not only because of research on tea and human health, but also thanks to considerable expansion by gourmet niche markets, notably in the European Union and the United States. Similarly, production of raw materials, such as jute and sisal, has been very robust, prompted by rising consumer demand for natural fibres. Today, these natural fibres find their usage in a number of sectors, including automotive, textile, and construction. These market opportunities exist not only in importing markets, but increasingly so in the domestic markets of developing producing countries themselves, where consumer purchasing power has improved amid rising real income. Expansion in demand for these products is expected to continue over the medium-term, implying greater opportunities for employment generation along the value chain and dynamic investment inflows.