Onions and shallots market in Côte d'Ivoire

Earlier Report Observations

From 2018 to 2022, the market for fresh or chilled onions and shallots in Côte d'Ivoire expanded steadily, with volume growing from 208 thousand tons to 299 thousand tons. This rise was driven by increasing imports, which supplied over 95% of domestic consumption due to local production covering less than 5% of demand. The country became Africa's largest importer of Dutch onions, with annual import growth averaging 10%, sourced mainly from the Netherlands, Niger, and Burkina Faso. In 2020, the sector's interprofessional organization, IOCI, launched a strategic plan aiming to increase local production to 36 000 tons by 2024.

Market volume peaked in 2022 at 299 thousand tons before declining to 273 thousand tons in 2023. This contraction coincided with a period of rising onion prices and broader agricultural inflation that had persisted since 2020. The average kilogram price of onions increased by 3.6% in 2023, potentially dampening consumer demand. Imports, which dominate the market from August to December each year, fell correspondingly from 295 thousand tons to 268 thousand tons over the same period.

In 2024, onion import volumes reached 320 thousand tons. Prices for white onions remained stable between August and September, and Japan provided $17 million in funding for the development of the Abidjan port cereal terminal.

Production onions and shallots in Côte d'Ivoire

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Top producers of onions and shallots, 2017-2020

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

In 2020, Côte d'Ivoire produced 8,417 tons of onions and shallots, marking a 3.2% increase from the previous year. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, production grew by 3.3%, which translates to an average annual growth rate of 1.1%. The highest production level was recorded in 2018 at 8,425 tons, with the largest year-on-year increase of 3.4% also occurring that year. In contrast, 2019 saw the most significant decline, with production dropping by 3.1%.

Annual dynamics of production in Côte d'Ivoire in kind, 2017-2020, t

Exports onions and shallots from Côte d'Ivoire

Exports in kind, K t

The export market for onions and shallots from Côte d'Ivoire showed considerable volatility between 2017 and 2020. In 2019, exports hit their lowest point at 1.2 thousand tons, representing a 27.9% decline from the previous year. However, by 2020, exports rebounded strongly to 2.1 thousand tons, a 76.5% increase compared to 2019. The overall fluctuation from the peak in 2020 to the trough in 2019 was 1.8 times, highlighting the market's instability.

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

From 2017 to 2020, the primary destinations for Côte d'Ivoire's onion and shallot exports in volume terms were Burkina Faso, Mali, and Ghana. Burkina Faso accounted for 39.0% of exports, Mali for 30.6%, and Ghana for 16.2%. Together, these three countries made up 85.8% of the total export flows during this period.

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

World map of product's exports from Côte d'Ivoire in kind, 2017-2020

Exports in value, K $ US

The value of onion and shallot exports from Côte d'Ivoire experienced an unstable trend from 2017 to 2020. The lowest point was in 2017, while exports peaked in 2020 at 699 thousand US dollars, a 73.3% increase from the previous year. The gap between the peak in 2020 and the trough in 2017 was 1.8 times. In 2019, exports saw a decline of 4.2%.

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

Between 2017 and 2020, Burkina Faso, Ghana, and Mali were the main destinations for Côte d'Ivoire's onion and shallot exports in value terms. Burkina Faso contributed 37.6% of export value, Ghana 27.1%, and Mali 18.9%. Collectively, these three countries accounted for 83.5% of total export value during this timeframe.

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

World map of product's exports from Côte d'Ivoire in value, 2017-2020

Imports onions and shallots to Côte d'Ivoire

Imports in kind, K t

Côte d'Ivoire's imports of onions and shallots have been on the rise for three consecutive years. In 2020, imports reached 246.1 thousand tons, a significant 16.9% increase compared to 2019. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, imports grew by 25%, which corresponds to an average annual growth rate of 7.7%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, the Netherlands, Niger, and Burkina Faso were the largest sources of onion and shallot imports to Côte d'Ivoire in volume terms. The Netherlands supplied 50.5% of imports, Niger 23.8%, and Burkina Faso 18.9%. Together, these three countries accounted for 93.2% of total import flows.

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

World map of product's imports to Côte d'Ivoire in kind, 2017-2020

Imports in value, K $ US

In 2020, Côte d'Ivoire imported onions and shallots worth 43,689 thousand US dollars, a substantial 24.2% increase from the previous year. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, imports grew by 26.7%, equating to an average annual growth rate of 8.2%. The largest decline occurred in 2019, with a drop of 6.5%.

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

Between 2017 and 2020, the Netherlands and Niger were the primary sources for Côte d'Ivoire's onion and shallot imports in value terms, jointly accounting for 84.3% of total import flows. Other trading partners made up the remaining share.

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

World map of product's imports to Côte d'Ivoire in value, 2017-2020