Market research

Onions and shallots market in Sao Tome and Principe

Release date: Mar 27, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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Earlier Report Observations

The market volume for fresh or chilled onions and shallots in Sao Tome and Principe experienced considerable fluctuations between 2018 and 2023. Consumption rose from 1 011 tons in 2018 to a peak of 1 155 tons in 2021, representing growth of over 14% from the 2019 low. This upward trend was abruptly reversed in 2022, when the market contracted by more than 21% to 904 tons, followed by a further 9% decline to 826 tons in 2023.

Domestic production remained remarkably stable throughout the period, outputting approximately 360 tons annually. Consequently, the pronounced volatility in total market size was almost entirely driven by changes in import volumes, which varied from a high of 795 tons in 2021 to a low of 466 tons in 2023.

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 Sao Tome and Principe
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in Sao Tome and Principe in kind, 2018-2023, t
  2. 5.1.2. Annual dynamics of production in Sao Tome and Principe 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 Sao Tome and Principe in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Sao Tome and Principe 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 Sao Tome and Principe in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Sao Tome and Principe 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 Sao Tome and Principe, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Sao Tome and Principe 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 Sao Tome and Principe in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Sao Tome and Principe 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 Sao Tome and Principe in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Sao Tome and Principe 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 Sao Tome and Principe, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Sao Tome and Principe by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
7. Trade balance
1. 7.1. Trade balance (Direct Data)
  1. 7.1.1. In kind, t
  2. 7.1.2. In value, K $ US
2. 7.2. Trade balance (Mirror Data)
  1. 7.2.1. In kind, t
  2. 7.2.2. In value, K $ US
8. Top buying and selling countries, 2018-2024
1. 8.1. Direct Data
  1. 8.1.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 8.1.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers
2. 8.2. Mirror Data
  1. 8.2.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 8.2.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers

Production onions and shallots in Sao Tome and Principe

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

Sao Tome and Principe's onion and shallot production volume declined after two years of growth. In 2019, production reached its peak at 361.5 tonnes. The following year, in 2020, output was nearly unchanged at 359.7 tonnes. The largest annual increase occurred in 2018, when production rose by 2.3%.

Annual dynamics of production in Sao Tome and Principe in kind, 2017-2020, t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	2.3%	0.1%	(0.5%)	0.6%

Source: SHEV.io

Exports onions and shallots from Sao Tome and Principe

According to market reports, Sao Tome and Principe did not export any onions or shallots between 2017 and 2020.

Imports onions and shallots to Sao Tome and Principe

Imports in kind, t

After two years of decline, foreign onion and shallot supplies to Sao Tome and Principe increased. Imports reached their lowest point in 2019 at 587.4 tonnes, marking a 9.6% drop that year. In 2020, imports rebounded to 727.0 tonnes, reflecting a robust 23.8% improvement over the previous year. Overall, from 2017 to 2020, imports grew by 11.8%, equivalent to an annualized rate of 3.8%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Sao Tome and Principe in kind, 2017-2020, t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(0.1%)	(9.6%)	23.8%	3.8%

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, the Netherlands, Portugal, and Belgium were the principal suppliers of onions and shallots to Sao Tome and Principe. The Netherlands accounted for 52.7% of imports in volume, Portugal for 25.1%, and Belgium for 20.8%. Together, these three countries represented 98.6% of total imports.

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

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to Sao Tome and Principe in kind, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, K $ US

In 2020, Sao Tome and Principe imported onions and shallots worth 431.2 thousand US dollars, which was 4.2% lower than in 2019. The minimum value during this period was recorded in 2018 at 351.6 thousand US dollars, while the peak occurred in 2019 at 450.2 thousand US dollars, representing a 28.0% increase that year. Over the entire 2017-2020 span, imports grew by 22.2%, with a compound annual growth rate of 6.9%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Sao Tome and Principe in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(0.3%)	28.0%	(4.2%)	6.9%

Source: SHEV.io

Between 2017 and 2020, the Netherlands, Portugal, and Belgium dominated the value of onion and shallot imports to Sao Tome and Principe. The Netherlands contributed 53.1% of the import value, Portugal 26.9%, and Belgium 18.7%. Collectively, these three suppliers accounted for 98.7% of total import flows in monetary terms.

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

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to Sao Tome and Principe in value, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io