Market research

Onions and shallots market in Congo

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 or chilled onions and shallots in Congo experienced considerable fluctuations between 2018 and 2023. Starting at 18 040 t in 2018, it declined to 16 278 t in 2019 before a sharp recovery to 21 244 t in 2020. The market then stabilized near 20 790 t in 2021, rose again to 23 167 t in 2022, and fell back to 19 026 t in 2023. Domestic production remained a small and steady contributor, averaging about 620 t annually, which underscores the market's heavy dependence on imported supply.

In 2024, import volumes reached 20 494 t, rebounding from the lower level seen in 2023. This period coincided with strengthened government efforts to diversify the Congolese economy, notably through policies supporting small and medium-sized enterprises and promoting the 'made in Congo' initiative. The agricultural sector, which accounts for around 6% of GDP and operates under favorable rainfall conditions, was highlighted as a priority for development, though it remains underdeveloped. These broad measures aimed at boosting local production and investment could gradually influence the structure of the onion and shallot supply chain.

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 Congo
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in Congo in kind, 2018-2023, t
  2. 5.1.2. Annual dynamics of production in Congo 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 Congo in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Congo 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 Congo in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Congo 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 Congo, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Congo 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 Congo in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Congo 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 Congo in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Congo 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 Congo, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Congo 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 Congo in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Congo 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 Congo in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Congo 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 Congo, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Congo 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 Congo in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Congo 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 Congo in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Congo 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 Congo, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Congo 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 Congo

In kind, 2017-2020, 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

Congo's onion and shallot production has grown for the third year in a row. In 2020, the country produced 622.5 t of onions and shallots, a slight increase of 0.9% from 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, production rose by 2.8%, with an average annual growth rate of 0.9%.

Annual dynamics of production in Congo in kind, 2017-2020, t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	0.9%	1.0%	0.9%	0.9%

Source: SHEV.io

Exports onions and shallots from Congo

Exports in kind, t

In 2020, Congo exported 3 t of onions and shallots, a substantial increase of 499.1% compared to the previous year.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	n/a	n/a	499.1%	-

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, the Democratic Republic of the Congo was the sole destination for Congo's onion and shallot exports in volume terms, accounting for 100.0% of total shipments.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, K $ US

Congo's onion and shallot exports reached 9 K $ US in 2020, marking a significant rise of 338.6% from 2019.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	n/a	n/a	338.6%	-

Source: SHEV.io

Between 2017 and 2020, the Democratic Republic of the Congo was the exclusive market for Congo's onion and shallot exports in value terms, representing 100.0% of total export revenue.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports onions and shallots to Congo

Imports in kind, t

After two years of decline, Congo's onion and shallot imports rebounded in 2020. The import volume totaled 20 624 t, a sharp increase of 31.7% year-over-year. Over the 2017-2020 period, imports fell by 39.6%, with an average annual decline of 15.5%. The lowest volume was recorded in 2019 at 15 661 t, while the largest drop occurred in 2018 at 48.9%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(48.9%)	(10.1%)	31.7%	(15.5%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, Belgium (46.4% of import volume), the Netherlands (26.7%), and Cameroon (23.8%) were the primary sources for Congo's onion and shallot imports, together accounting for 96.9% of total volume.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, K $ US

Following a two-year decrease, Congo's onion and shallot import value rose in 2020. Imports amounted to 5 367 K $ US, a steep increase of 47.1% from the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, import value declined by 47.1%, equivalent to an average annual rate of 19.1%. The lowest value was in 2019 at 3 650 K $ US, with the most significant drop in 2018 at 48.7%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(48.7%)	(29.9%)	47.1%	(19.1%)

Source: SHEV.io

During 2017-2020, Belgium and the Netherlands were the dominant sources for Congo's onion and shallot imports in value terms, jointly representing 88.7% of total import spending, while other countries contributed smaller shares.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io