Market research

Onions and shallots market in Malta

Release date: Mar 27, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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File format: docx, xlsx

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Earlier Report Observations

The market volume for fresh onions and shallots in Malta fluctuated between 2018 and 2020, peaking at 9,580 tonnes in 2019 before dropping to 8,110 tonnes in 2020. Domestic production fell from 8,810 tonnes in 2018 to 6,690 tonnes in 2020, while imports surged to 1,550 tonnes in 2019.

Recovery began in 2021, with the market reaching 8,471 tonnes. In 2022, market volume grew slightly to 8,518 tonnes, supported by rising demand for fresh vegetables due to veganism and health-conscious trends, alongside supply disruptions from the Russia-Ukraine war and a nearly 40% drop in Spanish onion harvests, which led to increased imports to meet consumer needs.

Growth continued in 2023 as the market expanded to 9,346 tonnes, with imports sharply rising to 2,851 tonnes in 2024, indicating growing reliance on imported onions and shallots to sustain the market.

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

In kind, 2017-2020, 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

Malta's production of onions and shallots declined for the second year in a row. In 2020, the country produced 6 690 tonnes, representing a year-on-year decrease of 16.7%. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, production fell by 21.2%, with a compound annual growth rate of -7.6%. The highest production level was recorded in 2018 at 8 810 tonnes, which also saw the largest annual increase of 3.8%.

Annual dynamics of production in Malta in kind, 2017-2020, t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	3.8%	(8.9%)	(16.7%)	(7.6%)

Source: SHEV.io

Exports onions and shallots from Malta

According to desk-based research, Malta did not export any onions or shallots between 2017 and 2020.

Imports onions and shallots to Malta

Imports in kind, t

Import volumes showed significant fluctuations during this period. The lowest point was in 2018 at 651 tonnes, while imports peaked in 2019 at 1 550 tonnes, creating a 2.4-fold difference between these two years. In 2020, Malta imported 1 420 tonnes, marking a moderate decline of 8.4% compared to 2019. The largest decrease occurred in 2018 with a drop of 28.2%, while the most substantial increase was recorded in 2019 at 138.2%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(28.2%)	138.2%	(8.4%)	16.2%

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, three key markets—Italy, the Netherlands, and Spain—collectively accounted for 83.0% of Malta's total onion and shallot imports by volume.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, K $ US

Import values displayed an unstable pattern throughout the timeframe. The lowest point was in 2017, while the peak occurred in 2019 at 1 175 thousand US dollars, resulting in a two-fold variation between these years. In 2020, Malta imported onions and shallots worth 1 113 thousand US dollars, down 5.3% year-on-year. The largest increase was recorded in 2019 at 100.7%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	0.8%	100.7%	(5.3%)	24.2%

Source: SHEV.io

Between 2017 and 2020, Italy, the Netherlands, and Spain dominated Malta's onion and shallot imports in value terms. Italy accounted for 57.0% of imports, followed by the Netherlands at 22.1% and Spain at 10.9%. Together, these three countries represented 90.0% of total import value.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io