Onions and shallots market in Mali

Earlier Report Observations

The market for fresh or chilled onions and shallots in Mali reached 779.7 thousand tonnes in 2018, boosted by large-scale private investments like the 1 000-ha onion farming project by AgriZED and the 2018 land law reform that facilitated access to agricultural land. However, market volume fell to 631.7 thousand tonnes in 2019. It recovered to 812.8 thousand tonnes in 2020, driven by the emergence of soilless organic horticulture, which created a new segment for onion production, and shifts in supply chains and consumer demand during the global pandemic.

Government food resilience programs, including public purchases of onion seeds, supported production and helped stabilize the market at 794.5 thousand tonnes in 2021 after a slight decrease. The market then declined to 712.3 thousand tonnes in 2022. A strong expansion followed in 2023, with the market volume surging to 889.7 thousand tonnes, fueled by national economic development strategies, investments in agricultural infrastructure, and administrative simplification that encouraged new entrants into the onion sector.

Production onions and shallots in Mali

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

From 2017 to 2020, Mali consistently ranked 28th globally in terms of onion and shallot production volume.

Top producers of onions and shallots, 2017-2020

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

In 2020, Mali produced 775.2 thousand tons of onions and shallots, marking a 28.6% increase compared to 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, production grew by 30.6%, with a compound annual growth rate of 9.3%. The most significant decline occurred in 2019, when production fell by 20.1%.

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

Exports onions and shallots from Mali

Exports in kind, t

Mali's onion and shallot exports grew for the second consecutive year in 2020, reaching 310 tons—a 179.2% year-on-year increase. Between 2018 and 2020, exports surged by 110 585.7%, translating to an annualized growth rate of 934.4%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Côte d'Ivoire was the primary market for Mali's onion and shallot exports in volume terms, accounting for 86.9% of total flows, while other countries made up the remaining share.

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

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

Exports in value, K $ US

Mali's onion and shallot export revenues increased for the second year in a row in 2020, totaling 54 thousand US dollars—a 135.0% rise compared to 2019. Over the 2018-2020 period, export value grew by 59 440.5%, with a compound annual growth rate of 741.3%.

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

During 2017-2020, Côte d'Ivoire was the leading buyer of onions and shallots from Mali in value terms, capturing 84.3% of total exports, while a diverse group of other countries accounted for the rest.

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

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

Imports onions and shallots to Mali

Imports in kind, t

Mali's onion and shallot imports rose for the second consecutive year in 2020, reaching 37 887 tons—a 30.0% increase from 2019. Between 2017 and 2020, imports grew by 12.1%, with an annualized rate of 3.9%. The lowest volume was recorded in 2018 at 25 806 tons, which represented a 23.6% decline from the previous year.

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

From 2017 to 2020, the Netherlands dominated Mali's onion and shallot imports in volume terms, holding a 70.2% share of total flows, while various smaller destinations split the remainder.

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

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

Imports in value, K $ US

Mali's spending on onion and shallot imports increased for the second year in a row in 2020, amounting to 11 141 thousand US dollars—an 11.8% rise from the previous year. The lowest value was recorded in 2018 at 9 223 thousand US dollars, marking a 17.8% decrease.

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

Over the 2017-2020 period, the Netherlands remained the dominant partner for Mali's onion and shallot imports in value terms, accounting for 73.3% of total flows, with other markets forming a long tail.

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

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