Market research

Onions and shallots market in ECOWAS

Release date: Mar 27, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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"ECOWAS" region includes following countries:

Benin

Burkina Faso

Gambia

Ghana

Guinea

Guinea-Bissau

Côte d'Ivoire

Cabo Verde

Liberia

Mali

Niger

Nigeria

Senegal

Sierra Leone

Togo

Earlier Report Observations

Between 2018 and 2023, the ECOWAS market for fresh onions and shallots expanded from 5.1 million tonnes to 6.7 million tonnes, with domestic production rising from 4.8 million tonnes to 6.3 million tonnes. The market experienced steady growth overall, though it saw a brief stabilization in 2021.

The accelerated growth in 2022 and 2023 was supported by new market entrants, such as Verdant Robotics, which secured substantial funding to expand research and operations. Concurrently, shifting consumer preferences toward veganism and organic, plant-based foods boosted demand for fresh onions and shallots across the region.

Increased accessibility through the expansion of online grocery shopping further stimulated market volume, while industry consolidation via mergers and acquisitions—including the 2023 deal between Almoiz Industries and Chandra Farms—reflected a maturing market landscape.

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 ECOWAS
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in ECOWAS 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, K t
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Benin in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Benin by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 6.1.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.1.3. Imports in value, M $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Benin in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Benin by countries, 2018-2024, M $ 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 Benin, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Benin 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, K t
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Benin in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Benin by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 6.2.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.2.3. Imports in value, M $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Benin in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Benin by countries, 2018-2024, M $ 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 Benin, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Benin 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, K t
    1. 7.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Benin in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Benin by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 7.1.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.1.3. Exports in value, M $ US
    1. 7.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Benin in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Benin by countries, 2018-2024, M $ 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 Benin, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Benin 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, K t
    1. 7.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Benin in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Benin by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 7.2.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.2.3. Exports in value, M $ US
    1. 7.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Benin in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Benin by countries, 2018-2024, M $ 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 Benin, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Benin by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
8. Trade balance
1. 8.1. Trade balance (Direct Data)
  1. 8.1.1. In kind, K t
  2. 8.1.2. In value, M $ US
2. 8.2. Trade balance (Mirror Data)
  1. 8.2.1. In kind, K t
  2. 8.2.2. In value, M $ 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 ECOWAS

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

ECOWAS has seen its onions and shallots production grow for the third year in a row. In 2020, the region produced 5 134 K t of onions and shallots, marking a 4.8% increase from 2019. Looking at the period from 2017 to 2020, production rose by 13.7%, with an average annual growth rate of 4.4%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	6.6%	1.9%	4.8%	4.4%

Source: SHEV.io

In value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Following two years of growth, onions and shallots production in ECOWAS experienced a decline. In 2020, the output was valued at 2 595 M $ US, showing a moderate drop of 4.9% compared to 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, production increased by 34.1%, which translates to an annualized rate of 10.3%. The peak value was in 2019 at 2 728 M $ US, while the largest increase occurred in 2018 with a 32.3% rise.

Annual dynamics of production in ECOWAS in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	32.3%	6.5%	(4.9%)	10.3%

Source: SHEV.io

Exports onions and shallots from ECOWAS

Exports in kind, K t

Onions and shallots exports from ECOWAS have increased for the second consecutive year. In 2020, exports reached 124.9 K t, reflecting a strong 11.3% growth from the previous year. However, over the 2017-2020 period, exports decreased by 30.3%, with an average annual decline of 11.3%. The lowest point was in 2018 at 99.3 K t, which also saw the largest drop of 44.6%. In contrast, the biggest increase was in 2019 with a 13.0% rise.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(44.6%)	13.0%	11.3%	(11.3%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, the United Kingdom (accounting for 2.5% of exports in kind), Spain (1.0%), and the United Arab Emirates (1.0%) remained the top buyers of onions and shallots from ECOWAS. Together, they represented 4.5% of total exports in kind.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, M $ US

ECOWAS's onions and shallots export value has risen for the second year in a row. In 2020, exports reached 63.1 M $ US, showing a 1.0% increase from the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, exports decreased by 17.8%, with an average annual decline of 6.3%. The lowest value was recorded in 2018 at 52.9 M $ US, which also experienced the largest drop of 31.1%. The biggest increase occurred in 2019 with an 18.1% rise.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(31.1%)	18.1%	1.0%	(6.3%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, the United Kingdom (9.8% of exports in value terms), the Netherlands (1.4%), and the United Arab Emirates (1.0%) continued to lead as the main buyers of onions and shallots from ECOWAS. Collectively, they accounted for 12.2% of total exports in value terms.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports onions and shallots to ECOWAS

Imports in kind, K t

After two years of decline, onions and shallots imports into ECOWAS rebounded. In 2020, imports reached 637.8 K t, up by 50.4% from the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, imports increased by 31.3%, with an average annual growth rate of 9.5%. The lowest point was in 2019 at 424.1 K t, while the largest decline occurred in 2018 with a 12.2% drop.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(12.2%)	(0.6%)	50.4%	9.5%

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, the Netherlands (63.4% of imports in kind), Morocco (2.2%), and Belgium (1.8%) were the primary sources for imports in kind, together making up 67.5% of total flows.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, M $ US

In 2020, onions and shallots imports into ECOWAS amounted to 189.6 M $ US, representing a dramatic 48.0% increase from the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, imports grew by 51.6%, with an average annual rate of 14.9%. The largest decline was in 2019 with a 1.9% drop.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	4.4%	(1.9%)	48.0%	14.9%

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, the leading sources for imports in value terms of onions and shallots to ECOWAS were the Netherlands (70.0% of imports in value terms), Morocco (2.0%), and Belgium (1.9%). Together, they accounted for 73.9% of total flows.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io