Onions and shallots market in Guatemala

Earlier Report Observations

The market volume for fresh onions and shallots in Guatemala rose from 110.5 thousand tons in 2018 to 181.6 thousand tons in 2023, a growth underpinned by sustained state price support mechanisms and a protective 15% import tariff that reinforced domestic production. Early in the period, congressional debate on a plant variety protection law highlighted ongoing legislative attention to the agricultural sector, while seasonal supply patterns from traditional growing departments consistently influenced availability.

After a sharp expansion in 2019, growth eased in 2020 and then stabilized in 2021. Market volume surged again in 2022, reaching 177.9 thousand tons, as existing price‑support and market‑protection policies continued to foster local output. By 2024, new regulatory measures came into view, including the future implementation of Decree 31‑2024—a law that will introduce a special tax regime for small producers—and the entry into force of the updated Central American sanitary standard RTCA 67.01.31:20, which modernizes food‑safety procedures for fresh produce like onions.

Production onions and shallots in Guatemala

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of onions and shallots, 2017-2020

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

Guatemala's production of onions and shallots has grown for the third year in a row. In 2020, the country produced 171.0 thousand tons, marking a 3.5% increase from 2019. Looking at the period from 2017 to 2020, production rose by 18.2%, with an average annual growth rate of 5.7%.

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

Exports onions and shallots from Guatemala

Exports in kind, t

After two years of decline, Guatemala's exports of onions and shallots have rebounded. In 2020, the country exported 32 821 tons, showing a modest 9.0% increase compared to 2019. However, over the full period from 2017 to 2020, exports fell by 18.5%, which translates to an annualized decrease of 6.6%. The lowest export volume was recorded in 2019 at 30 102 tons, with the sharpest drop of 23.9% occurring that same year.

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

From 2017 to 2020, El Salvador was the leading destination for Guatemala's onion and shallot exports, accounting for 76.4% of the total volume. The remaining exports were distributed among other trading partners.

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

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

Exports in value, K $ US

The value of Guatemala's onion and shallot exports has increased for the second consecutive year. In 2020, exports reached 6 576 thousand US dollars, showing little change from 2019. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, export value grew by 25.5%, with an average annual growth rate of 7.9%. The lowest value was recorded in 2018 at 4 921 thousand US dollars, which saw the largest decline of 6.0%. In contrast, 2019 experienced the biggest increase of 32.9%.

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

Between 2017 and 2020, El Salvador and Honduras were the dominant buyers of Guatemalan onions and shallots in value terms, together representing 86.9% of total exports. Other partners played a less significant role in the export market.

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

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

Imports onions and shallots to Guatemala

Imports in kind, t

The import volume of onions and shallots in Guatemala showed significant fluctuations during this period. Imports dropped to their lowest point in 2018 at 1 642 tons, with the largest decline of 83.5% occurring that year. By 2020, imports surged to 9 222 tons, representing a sharp increase of 139.0% from 2019. Overall, from the high in 2017 to the low in 2018, imports varied by a factor of 6.1.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Mexico, Belgium, and the Netherlands were the core sources of Guatemala's onion and shallot imports by volume. Mexico accounted for 42.4%, Belgium for 33.5%, and the Netherlands for 12.4% of imports, together making up 88.3% of total flows.

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

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

Imports in value, K $ US

The import value of onions and shallots in Guatemala exhibited volatility over the observed years. The lowest value was recorded in 2018 at 734 thousand US dollars, which saw the largest decline of 78.2%. By 2020, imports climbed to 3 676 thousand US dollars, a 120.6% increase from 2019. The largest increase occurred in 2019 at 127.1%. From the peak in 2020 to the trough in 2018, imports changed by a factor of 5.

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

In the period from 2017 to 2020, Mexico, Belgium, and the Netherlands were the main sources of Guatemala's onion and shallot imports by value. Mexico contributed 38.3%, Belgium 30.5%, and the Netherlands 14.0%, together accounting for 82.7% of total import flows.

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

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