Alliaceous vegetables market in Lebanon

Earlier Report Observations

From 2018 to 2020, the market for alliaceous vegetables in Lebanon expanded significantly, reaching a peak volume of 220 thousand tons in 2020. This growth was supported by increased domestic production, which rose to 204 thousand tons, and higher imports compared to previous years.

After 2020, the market contracted steadily, falling to 120 thousand tons by 2023. A key driver in 2023 was a surge in onion prices, which reduced consumer demand and led to lower sales volumes across the market.

In 2024, Lebanon's National Agriculture Strategy 2020-2025 and a draft law to regulate seed and seedling trade were active factors shaping the agricultural sector, with implications for the alliaceous vegetables market.

Production alliaceous vegetables in Lebanon

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of alliaceous vegetables, 2017-2020

World map of production of alliaceous vegetables, 2017-2020

Lebanon's production of alliaceous vegetables has grown for the third year in a row. In 2020, the country produced 203.7 thousand tonnes, marking a 23.6% increase from 2019. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, production surged by 89.7%, with an average annual growth rate of 23.8%.

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

Exports alliaceous vegetables from Lebanon

Exports in kind, t

The market showed significant fluctuations during this period. Export volumes hit their lowest point in 2018 at 1 865 tonnes and peaked in 2020 at 7 119 tonnes, representing a 3.8-fold difference between these years. In 2020, exports rose sharply by 144.5% compared to 2019. The largest decline occurred in 2018, with a drop of 39.0%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, three key markets—Kuwait, Jordan, and Qatar—collectively accounted for 65.3% of Lebanon's total alliaceous vegetable exports by volume.

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

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

Exports in value, K $ US

The market displayed an unstable trend over these years. Export values bottomed out in 2018 at 924 thousand US dollars and reached their highest point in 2020 at 2 008 thousand US dollars, a 2.2-fold increase. In 2020, export value jumped by 103.8% from the previous year. The largest decline was in 2018, falling by 30.3%.

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

Between 2017 and 2020, Kuwait, Jordan, and Qatar remained the primary markets for Lebanon's alliaceous vegetable exports by value. Kuwait accounted for 35.1%, Jordan for 15.3%, and Qatar for 13.2%, together making up 63.5% of total export value.

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

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

Imports alliaceous vegetables to Lebanon

Imports in kind, t

The market was marked by volatility during these years. Import volumes were at their lowest in 2018 at 5 168 tonnes and peaked in 2019 at 31 523 tonnes, a 6.1-fold difference. In 2020, imports declined by 24.9% to 23 662 tonnes compared to the prior year. The largest drop was in 2018, down 56.2%, while the biggest increase was in 2019, soaring by 510.0%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Egypt and China dominated Lebanon's alliaceous vegetable imports by volume, with other markets playing minor roles individually.

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

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

Imports in value, K $ US

The market experienced volatility throughout this period. Import values were lowest in 2018 at 6 438 thousand US dollars and highest in 2019 at 12 963 thousand US dollars, a 2-fold difference. In 2020, imports decreased by 6.3% to 12 147 thousand US dollars from 2019. The largest decline was in 2018, down 44.0%, while the largest increase was in 2019, up 101.4%.

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

Over the 2017–2020 period, China and Egypt consistently represented 90.0% of Lebanon's total alliaceous vegetable imports by value, showing high market concentration with a long tail of smaller contributors.

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

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