Onions and shallots market in Mauritius

Earlier Report Observations

From 2018 to 2022, the market volume for fresh onions and shallots in Mauritius fluctuated between 18 800 t and 20 500 t, peaking at 20 539 t in 2021. During this period, a major shift occurred in local farming strategies, as evidenced by Agriterra reducing its overall cultivation area by 60% over five years to concentrate specifically on potato and onion production across 45 hectares. This refocusing responded to growing domestic consumer demand for local, healthy, and sustainably produced goods.

A dramatic market contraction to 9 666 t occurred in 2023, driven primarily by a severe drop in imports. This import shortage was caused by difficult weather conditions in key exporting nations like India and Egypt, which constrained global supplies and reduced shipments to Mauritius. Concurrently, local production saw a modest decline. Efforts to strengthen domestic output included the launch of two new hybrid onion varieties, Bellarose and Francia, by the Agricultural Research and Extension Unit, aimed at improving long-term production resilience.

Imports partially recovered in early 2024 but remained below pre-2023 levels. The global onion supply situation remained strained due to extreme weather and India's export ban, continuing to affect availability on the Mauritian market. Local production continued to face challenges from seasonality and rising operational costs, such as electricity, for cold storage and equipment maintenance, while consumer preference continued to evolve towards locally grown produce.

Production onions and shallots in Mauritius

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Top producers of onions and shallots, 2017-2020

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

Mauritius has seen its onions and shallots production volume increase for the second year in a row. In 2020, the country produced 5 169 tonnes of onions and shallots, marking a strong 11.4% growth compared to 2019. However, looking at the broader period from 2017 to 2020, production actually decreased by 22.1%, with an average annual decline of 8.0%. The lowest production level was recorded in 2018 at 4 511 tonnes, which also saw the largest drop of 32.0%.

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

Exports onions and shallots from Mauritius

Exports in kind, t

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

From 2017 to 2020, Germany was overwhelmingly the primary destination for Mauritius's onions and shallots exports in volume terms, accounting for 100.0% of the total.

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

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

Exports in value, K $ US

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

Throughout 2017 to 2020, Germany consistently dominated as the key and nearly exclusive destination for Mauritius's onions and shallots exports in value terms, holding a 100.0% share.

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

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

Imports onions and shallots to Mauritius

Imports in kind, t

Following two years of growth, Mauritius's imports of onions and shallots declined. In 2020, imports reached 13 636 tonnes, showing a moderate 7.4% decrease from the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, imports overall increased by 11%, with an average annual growth rate of 3.6%. The peak was in 2019 at 14 729 tonnes, while the largest increase occurred in 2018 at 17.4%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, India led the country structure of Mauritius's onions and shallots imports in volume, accounting for 76.9% of the total, with other sources contributing relatively small shares.

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

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

Imports in value, K $ US

In 2020, Mauritius's onions and shallots imports in value terms stood at 7 826 thousand US dollars, representing a 22.7% increase from 2019. Between 2017 and 2020, imports grew by 44.6%, equivalent to an annualized rate of 13.1%. The largest decline was in 2019 at 14.3%, while the biggest increase was in 2018 at 37.6%.

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

During 2017 to 2020, India and the Netherlands were the main destinations for Mauritius's onions and shallots imports in value, together accounting for 89.3% of total flows, with other partners playing much smaller individual roles.

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

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