Market research

Onions and shallots market in Bhutan

Release date: Mar 27, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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Earlier Report Observations

The market volume for fresh onions and shallots in Bhutan expanded from 3 864 t in 2018 to 5 657 t in 2023, with notable growth in 2020 and a peak of 6 885 t in 2022. This increase was primarily supported by rising imports, which reached 6 363 t in 2022, while domestic production showed volatility.

In 2021, supply disruptions in India due to drought reduced onion availability, leading to price volatility in Bhutan. This event encouraged local farmers to increase production, achieving 646 t that year. However, production faced structural challenges including limited arable land, irrigation shortages, and human-wildlife conflict, contributing to a decline in subsequent years.

Bhutan's reliance on onion imports continued, with import volumes fluctuating in response to international price changes and supply conditions. The market remained sensitive to external factors, with no major regulatory changes reported during the period.

Table of content

1. Disclaimer
2. Terms of use of the report
3. Product codes in the statistical classifications used in the report
4. Key Market Indicators and Trends
1. 4.1. Key Market Indicators
  1. 4.1.1. In kind
    1. 4.1.1.1. Production, 2018-2023
    2. 4.1.1.2. Imports, 2018-2025
    3. 4.1.1.3. Exports, 2018-2025
    4. 4.1.1.4. Market size, 2018-2023
2. 4.2. Market Trends and Factors
5. Production
1. 5.1. Production in Bhutan
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in Bhutan in kind, 2018-2023, t
  2. 5.1.2. Annual dynamics of production in Bhutan in value, 2018-2023, $ US
2. 5.2. Global production by Country, 2018-2023
  1. 5.2.1. Annual dynamics of production by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023, t
  2. 5.2.2. Dynamics of production structure by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023
  3. 5.2.3. Annual dynamics of production by country in kind, 2018-2023, t
  4. 5.2.4. Structure of production by countries in kind, 2018-2023
  5. 5.2.5. Dynamics of peoduction structure by countries in kind, 2018-2023
6. Imports
1. 6.1. Imports (Direct Data*)
  1. 6.1.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 6.1.2. Imports in kind, t
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Bhutan in kind, 2018-2025, t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Bhutan by countries, 2018-2025, t
    3. 6.1.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2025
  3. 6.1.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Bhutan in value, 2018-2025, K $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Bhutan by countries, 2018-2025, K $ US
    3. 6.1.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2025
  4. 6.1.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 6.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Bhutan, 2018-2025, $ US/t
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Bhutan by countries, 2018-2025, $ US/t
2. 6.2. Imports (Mirror Data)
  1. 6.2.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 6.2.2. Imports in kind, t
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Bhutan in kind, 2018-2025, t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Bhutan by countries, 2018-2025, t
    3. 6.2.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2025
  3. 6.2.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Bhutan in value, 2018-2025, K $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Bhutan by countries, 2018-2025, K $ US
    3. 6.2.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2025
  4. 6.2.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 6.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Bhutan, 2018-2025, $ US/t
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Bhutan by countries, 2018-2025, $ US/t
7. Exports
1. 7.1. Exports (Direct Data*)
  1. 7.1.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 7.1.2. Exports in kind, t
    1. 7.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Bhutan in kind, 2018-2025, t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Bhutan by countries, 2018-2025, t
    3. 7.1.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2025
  3. 7.1.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Bhutan in value, 2018-2025, K $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Bhutan by countries, 2018-2025, K $ US
    3. 7.1.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2025
  4. 7.1.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 7.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Bhutan, 2018-2025, $ US/t
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Bhutan by countries, 2018-2025, $ US/t
2. 7.2. Exports (Mirror Data)
  1. 7.2.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 7.2.2. Exports in kind, t
    1. 7.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Bhutan in kind, 2018-2025, t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Bhutan by countries, 2018-2025, t
    3. 7.2.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2025
  3. 7.2.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Bhutan in value, 2018-2025, K $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Bhutan by countries, 2018-2025, K $ US
    3. 7.2.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2025
  4. 7.2.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 7.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Bhutan, 2018-2025, $ US/t
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Bhutan by countries, 2018-2025, $ US/t
8. Trade balance
1. 8.1. Trade balance (Direct Data)
  1. 8.1.1. In kind, t
  2. 8.1.2. In value, K $ US
2. 8.2. Trade balance (Mirror Data)
  1. 8.2.1. In kind, t
  2. 8.2.2. In value, K $ US
9. Top buying and selling countries, 2018-2025
1. 9.1. Direct Data
  1. 9.1.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.1.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers
2. 9.2. Mirror Data
  1. 9.2.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.2.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers

Production onions and shallots in Bhutan

In kind, 2018-2021, t

Top producers of onions and shallots, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of onions and shallots, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

Bhutan's production of onions and shallots has grown for the third year in a row. In 2021, the country produced 645.9 tonnes, marking a sharp 33.3% increase from the previous year. Looking at the period from 2018 to 2021, production surged by 111.7%, which translates to an average annual growth rate of 28.4%.

Annual dynamics of production in Bhutan in kind, 2018-2021, t

Parameter		2019	2020	2021	CAGR
1	Change from last year	9.4%	45.1%	33.3%	28.4%

Source: SHEV.io

Exports onions and shallots from Bhutan

Exports in kind, t

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Bhutan in kind, 2018-2021, t

Parameter		2019	2020	2021	CAGR
1	Change from last year	n/a	n/a	n/a	-

Source: SHEV.io

From 2018 to 2021, Bhutan's exports in kind were almost entirely directed to India, which consistently accounted for 100.0% of the total export volume.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's exports from Bhutan in kind, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, K $ US

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Bhutan in value, 2018-2021, K $ US

Parameter		2019	2020	2021	CAGR
1	Change from last year	n/a	n/a	n/a	-

Source: SHEV.io

During 2018–2021, the value of onions and shallots exported from Bhutan was overwhelmingly concentrated in India, with its share reaching 100.0% of total exports.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's exports from Bhutan in value, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

Imports onions and shallots to Bhutan

Imports in kind, t

In 2021, Bhutan imported 3 880 tonnes of onions and shallots, a decrease of 4.4% from 2020. Over the period from 2018 to 2021, imports rose by 9%, averaging an annual growth rate of 2.9%. The lowest import volume was recorded in 2019 at 3 308 tonnes, while the highest was in 2020 at 4 060 tonnes. The most significant drop occurred in 2019 with a 7.1% decline, and the largest increase was in 2020 with a 22.7% rise.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Bhutan in kind, 2018-2021, t

Parameter		2019	2020	2021	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(7.1%)	22.7%	(4.4%)	2.9%

Source: SHEV.io

Between 2018 and 2021, India was the nearly exclusive source of onions and shallots imported by Bhutan, holding a 100.0% share of total imports in kind.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to Bhutan in kind, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, K $ US

Following two years of growth, Bhutan's imports of onions and shallots in value terms declined in 2021, totaling 1 806 thousand US dollars, down 1.8% from 2020. From 2018 to 2021, imports increased by 66.4%, with a compound annual growth rate of 18.5%. The peak value was recorded in 2020 at 1 839 thousand US dollars, which also saw the largest increase of 55.6%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Bhutan in value, 2018-2021, K $ US

Parameter		2019	2020	2021	CAGR
1	Change from last year	8.9%	55.6%	(1.8%)	18.5%

Source: SHEV.io

Throughout 2018–2021, almost all imports in value terms of onions and shallots to Bhutan were linked to India, which accounted for 100.0% of the total import value.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to Bhutan in value, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io