Alliaceous vegetables market in Africa

Earlier Report Observations

The African alliaceous vegetables market grew consistently from 17,447 K t in 2018 to 20,018 K t in 2023. This expansion was supported by government investment in marketing infrastructure, including the establishment and refurbishment of national fresh produce markets, which improved access for small-scale farmers and helped lower transaction costs, thereby stimulating production and market participation.

By 2024, the vegetable sector showed resilience with the emergence of new product segments such as chilled ready mashed potatoes and frozen chopped onions and garlic, broadening consumer choices and sales potential. Ongoing access to market information remained a key factor for farmer engagement, while global supply chain influences continued to affect import availability and pricing dynamics.

Overall production volumes increased steadily throughout the period, reinforcing the market's upward trajectory, while imports and exports fluctuated without offsetting the rise in domestic consumption.

Production alliaceous vegetables in Africa

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of alliaceous vegetables, 2017-2020

World map of production of alliaceous vegetables, 2017-2020

Africa's production of alliaceous vegetables has grown for the third year in a row. In 2020, the continent produced 18 048 thousand tonnes, marking a modest 2.3% increase from 2019. Looking at the period from 2017 to 2020, production rose by 12.2%, which translates to an average annual growth rate of 3.9%.

Annual dynamics of production in Africa in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Exports alliaceous vegetables from Africa

Exports in kind, K t

Africa's exports of alliaceous vegetables reached 566 thousand tonnes in 2020, showing a significant decline of 13.4% compared to 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, exports fell by 28.5%, with an average annual decrease of 10.6%. The lowest export volume was recorded in 2018 at 417 thousand tonnes, which also saw the largest drop of 47.4%. In contrast, 2019 experienced the biggest increase of 57.1%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Africa in kind, 2017-2020, K t

From 2017 to 2020, Saudi Arabia, Russia, and the Netherlands were the top buyers of alliaceous vegetables from Africa, accounting for 17.0%, 6.4%, and 5.8% of exports in kind, respectively. Together, they made up 29.3% of total exports, but the market remained diverse with many smaller partners.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Africa in kind, 2017-2020

Exports in value, M $ US

In 2020, the value of alliaceous vegetables exported from Africa was $366.4 million, down 14.3% year-over-year. Between 2017 and 2020, export value decreased by 4%, with a compound annual growth rate of -1.3%. The lowest value was $264.8 million in 2018, which also saw the largest decline of 30.6%. The peak was in 2019 at $427.7 million, with the biggest increase of 61.6%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Africa in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Data from 2017 to 2020 show that Africa's exports of alliaceous vegetables in value terms were not heavily concentrated. Saudi Arabia, the Netherlands, and Russia were the leading destinations, contributing 16.6%, 8.5%, and 8.1% of export value, respectively. Combined, they accounted for 33.2% of total flows, indicating a broad distribution among other markets.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Africa in value, 2017-2020

Imports alliaceous vegetables to Africa

Imports in kind, K t

After two years of decline, Africa's imports of alliaceous vegetables rebounded in 2020, reaching 1 016 thousand tonnes, a 42.1% increase from the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, imports grew by 20.3%, with an average annual rate of 6.3%. The lowest import volume was 715 thousand tonnes in 2019, which also experienced the largest decrease of 8.1%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Africa in kind, 2017-2020, K t

During 2017-2020, the Netherlands, China, and Belgium were the primary sources for Africa's imports of alliaceous vegetables in kind, representing 46.6%, 8.0%, and 2.4% of imports, respectively. Together, they accounted for 57.0% of total import flows.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Africa in kind, 2017-2020

Imports in value, M $ US

Following a two-year reduction, Africa's imports of alliaceous vegetables in value terms increased in 2020 to $402.2 million, up 34.9% from 2019. From 2017 to 2020, import value rose by 24%, with a compound annual growth rate of 7.4%. The lowest value was $298.2 million in 2019, which also saw the largest decline of 7.8%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Africa in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

In the 2017-2020 period, the Netherlands, China, and Spain remained the key suppliers of alliaceous vegetables to Africa in value terms, contributing 38.8%, 16.3%, and 8.1% of import value, respectively. Collectively, they made up 63.2% of total imports.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Africa in value, 2017-2020