Market research

Onions and shallots market in Malawi

Release date: Mar 27, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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Earlier Report Observations

Malawi's fresh or chilled onions and shallots market experienced substantial expansion from 2018 to 2020, with volume rising from 172.1 thousand tonnes to 274.9 thousand tonnes. The most significant leap occurred in 2019, when the market grew by over 40%, establishing a strong upward trajectory that continued into the following year.

After a peak in 2020, the market saw a slight contraction in 2021, dropping to 264.3 thousand tonnes. Growth resumed thereafter, reaching 270.7 thousand tonnes in 2022 and climbing to 291.6 thousand tonnes in 2023. Over the entire period from 2018 to 2023, the market's total volume increased by more than 70%, a rise primarily supported by domestic production figures which followed a similar pattern.

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

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

Malawi's production of onions and shallots has grown for the third year in a row. In 2020, the country produced 274.8 thousand tonnes, which represents a 12.5% increase compared to 2019. Looking at the period from 2017 to 2020, production rose by 60.4%, with an average annual growth rate of 17.1%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	0.3%	42.2%	12.5%	17.1%

Source: SHEV.io

Exports onions and shallots from Malawi

Exports in kind, t

In 2020, Malawi exported 95.5 tonnes of onions and shallots, showing a significant surge of 69.1% from the previous year.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	n/a	n/a	69.1%	-

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, Tanzania dominated Malawi's onion and shallot exports in volume, accounting for 99.9% of the total shipments.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, K $ US

Malawi's onion and shallot exports reached 11.2 thousand US dollars in 2020, marking a 60.8% increase compared to the year before.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	n/a	n/a	60.8%	-

Source: SHEV.io

Between 2017 and 2020, the value of Malawi's onion and shallot exports was almost entirely linked to Tanzania, which held a 98.9% share of the total.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports onions and shallots to Malawi

Imports in kind, t

Malawi's imports of onions and shallots declined for the second consecutive year. In 2020, imports totaled 214.9 tonnes, down 23.7% from the previous year. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, imports increased by 10.2%, with an average annual growth rate of 3.3%. The highest volume was recorded in 2018 at 284.8 tonnes, which also saw the largest increase of 46.1%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	46.1%	(1.1%)	(23.7%)	3.3%

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, South Africa and Tanzania were the key sources for Malawi's onion and shallot imports in volume, together making up 99.4% of the total.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, K $ US

The market showed an unstable trend over this period. Imports in value terms varied 1.7 times, from a low in 2017 to a high in 2018. In 2020, Malawi's onion and shallot imports amounted to 136.8 thousand US dollars, a 21.4% decrease from the previous year. The peak value was recorded in 2018 at 190.0 thousand US dollars, which also experienced the largest increase of 70.4%.

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