Market research

Onions and shallots market in Caribbean

Release date: Mar 27, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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"Caribbean" region includes following countries:

Antigua and Barbuda

the Bahamas

Barbados

British Virgin Islands

Cayman Islands

Cuba

Dominica

Dominican Republic

Grenada

Guadeloupe

Haiti

Jamaica

Martinique

Montserrat

Curacao

Aruba

Saint Maarten (Dutch part)

Bonaire

Puerto Rico

Saint-Barthélemy

Saint Kitts and Nevis

Anguilla

Saint Lucia

Saint-Martin (French Part)

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Trinidad and Tobago

Turks and Caicos Islands

United States Virgin Islands

Earlier Report Observations

The Caribbean market for fresh onions and shallots gradually contracted from 2018 to 2022, with total consumption falling from 230.5 thousand tonnes to 203.0 thousand tonnes. This downtrend reversed in 2023 when market volume grew by 2% to reach 207 thousand tonnes, signaling a potential stabilization.

The overall market movement was shaped by significant volatility in domestic production, which dropped sharply in 2020 and remained below pre-2020 levels. Fluctuating import volumes, which peaked in 2020 and again in 2023, played a counterbalancing role in total supply, moderating the impact of weaker local output.

Preliminary 2024 trade figures show a substantial rise in imports to 83.7 thousand tonnes, the highest level in the observed period, while exports remained minimal. The full effect of this increased import volume on the 2024 market size is not yet reflected in the available data.

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, 2018-2024
    3. 4.1.1.3. Exports, 2018-2024
    4. 4.1.1.4. Market size, 2018-2023
2. 4.2. Market Trends and Factors
5. Production
1. 5.1. Production in Caribbean
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in Caribbean in kind, 2018-2023, K t
2. 5.2. Global production by Country, 2018-2023
  1. 5.2.1. Annual dynamics of production by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023, K 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, K 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 Antigua and Barbuda in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Antigua and Barbuda by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 6.1.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.1.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Antigua and Barbuda in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Antigua and Barbuda by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 6.1.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  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 Antigua and Barbuda, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Antigua and Barbuda by countries, 2018-2024, $ 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 Antigua and Barbuda in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Antigua and Barbuda by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 6.2.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.2.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Antigua and Barbuda in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Antigua and Barbuda by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 6.2.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  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 Antigua and Barbuda, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Antigua and Barbuda by countries, 2018-2024, $ 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 Antigua and Barbuda in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Antigua and Barbuda by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 7.1.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.1.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Antigua and Barbuda in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Antigua and Barbuda by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 7.1.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  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 Antigua and Barbuda, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Antigua and Barbuda by countries, 2018-2024, $ 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 Antigua and Barbuda in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Antigua and Barbuda by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 7.2.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.2.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Antigua and Barbuda in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Antigua and Barbuda by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 7.2.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  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 Antigua and Barbuda, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Antigua and Barbuda by countries, 2018-2024, $ 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, 2018-2024
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 Caribbean

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of onions and shallots, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of onions and shallots, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

In 2020, Caribbean produced 148.2 thousand tons of onions and shallots, marking a 16.7% decrease compared to 2019. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, production fell by 23.7%, which translates to an average annual decline of 8.6%. The only year that saw growth was 2019, with a modest increase of 1.1%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(9.4%)	1.1%	(16.7%)	(8.6%)

Source: SHEV.io

Exports onions and shallots from Caribbean

Exports in kind, t

The market showed considerable volatility throughout the analyzed period. Exports reached their lowest point in 2020 at 292 tons, which was 81.4% lower than the previous year. In contrast, 2019 saw the peak with 1 574 tons, representing a 132.6% surge from 2018. Overall, the swing between the high in 2019 and the low in 2020 was 5.4-fold.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	4.3%	132.6%	(81.4%)	(23.3%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, the export structure for onions and shallots in volume terms was quite diversified. The top three destinations—the Netherlands (15.0% of exports), Sri Lanka (8.0%), and Canada (4.8%)—collectively accounted for just 27.8% of total flows, with no single country holding a dominant position.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, K $ US

The market experienced significant fluctuations over the timeframe. Exports hit their lowest point in 2017 and peaked in 2019 at 1 319 thousand US dollars, creating a 2.7-fold gap between these years. In 2020, Caribbean's onion and shallot exports dropped to 723 thousand US dollars, a sharp 45.2% decline from 2019. The largest increase occurred in 2019, with an 81.0% rise.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	48.6%	81.0%	(45.2%)	13.8%

Source: SHEV.io

Between 2017 and 2020, the partner structure for exports in value terms was balanced rather than concentrated. Canada (23.8% of exports), the Netherlands (14.4%), and Bunkers (4.0%) together made up 42.2% of total flows, while the remaining 57.8% was distributed among numerous other countries.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports onions and shallots to Caribbean

Imports in kind, t

In 2020, Caribbean imported 68 611 tons of onions and shallots, a sharp 39.9% increase compared to 2019. Over the 2017–2020 period, imports grew by 41.9%, averaging an annual growth rate of 12.4%. The only decline was recorded in 2019, with an 11.1% drop.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	14.1%	(11.1%)	39.9%	12.4%

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, the Netherlands was the dominant source for Caribbean's imports of onions and shallots in volume terms, accounting for 82.7% of total flows. The remainder was spread across several smaller markets.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, K $ US

Onions and shallots deliveries to Caribbean increased for the third consecutive year in 2020, with imports reaching approximately 36 701 thousand US dollars, up 19.0% from the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, imports surged by 76.6%, equating to an average annual growth rate of 20.9%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	41.7%	4.7%	19.0%	20.9%

Source: SHEV.io

During 2017–2020, the Netherlands and the United States together dominated Caribbean's imports in value terms, comprising 91.3% of the total. Other countries contributed to a diversified but less significant portion of the imports.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io