Onions and shallots market in Sub-Saharan Africa

Earlier Report Observations

The market volume for fresh onions and shallots in Sub-Saharan Africa grew from 8 902 thousand tonnes in 2018 to 10 573 thousand tonnes in 2023, representing a steady expansion overall. This increase was supported by rising domestic production, which climbed from 8 277 thousand tonnes to 10 070 thousand tonnes over the same period. The market experienced its strongest annual growth in 2020 and 2022, while a slight contraction occurred in 2021.

In South Africa, a significant regional market, the distribution structure for fresh onions remained anchored in traditional channels, with 55% of volume moving through fresh produce markets as of 2021. This highlights the continued importance of established networks in the region's vegetable trade.

By 2024, external shocks began to affect the supply side. Severe flooding and climate change damaged onion farms and seed production in key Nigerian states, disrupting output. Concurrently, widespread supply chain bottlenecks and inadequate storage infrastructure in countries like Tanzania and Nigeria contributed to emerging scarcity and sharp price increases across the region.

Production onions and shallots in Sub-Saharan Africa

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of onions and shallots, 2017-2020

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

Onion and shallot production in Sub-Saharan Africa has grown for the third year in a row. In 2020, the region produced 8 938 thousand tonnes, marking a 4.0% increase compared to the previous year. Looking at the period from 2017 to 2020, production rose by 13.6%, which translates to an average annual growth rate of 4.3%.

Annual dynamics of production in Sub-Saharan Africa in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Exports onions and shallots from Sub-Saharan Africa

Exports in kind, K t

Export volumes of onions and shallots from Sub-Saharan Africa have increased for the second consecutive year. In 2020, exports reached 148.6 thousand tonnes, showing a 5.3% rise from 2019. However, over the broader period from 2017 to 2020, exports actually declined by 43%, averaging a 17.1% annual decrease. The lowest point was in 2018, with 121.1 thousand tonnes exported. That year also saw the sharpest drop, at 53.6%, while the largest increase occurred in 2019, with a 16.5% gain.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Sub-Saharan Africa in kind, 2017-2020, K t

From 2017 to 2020, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands were the top two destinations for onion and shallot exports from Sub-Saharan Africa in volume terms. The UK accounted for 1.5% of total flows, and the Netherlands for 0.8%, together making up 2.3% of all exports.

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

World map of product's exports from Sub-Saharan Africa in kind, 2017-2020

Exports in value, M $ US

In 2020, the value of onion and shallot exports from Sub-Saharan Africa stood at 101.5 million US dollars, reflecting a modest decline of 9.9% year-over-year. Over the 2017-2020 period, export value decreased by 13.8%, with a compound annual growth rate of -4.8%. The lowest value was recorded in 2018, at 101.3 million US dollars. That year also experienced the largest decline, at 14.1%, whereas the biggest increase happened in 2019, with an 11.2% rise.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Sub-Saharan Africa in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Between 2017 and 2020, the leading destinations for onion and shallot exports from Sub-Saharan Africa in value terms were the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Spain. The UK accounted for 7.4% of export value, the Netherlands for 4.1%, and Spain for 0.6%, collectively representing 12.1% of total flows.

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

World map of product's exports from Sub-Saharan Africa in value, 2017-2020

Imports onions and shallots to Sub-Saharan Africa

Imports in kind, K t

After a two-year decline, onion and shallot import volumes into Sub-Saharan Africa rebounded in 2020. Imports totaled 935.1 thousand tonnes that year, surging by 45.0% compared to 2019. From 2017 to 2020, imports grew by 25.1%, averaging a 7.8% annual increase. The lowest volume was in 2019, at 644.7 thousand tonnes, which also saw the largest decline of 13.5%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Sub-Saharan Africa in kind, 2017-2020, K t

From 2017 to 2020, the Netherlands, Sudan, and Belgium were the primary sources for onion and shallot imports into Sub-Saharan Africa in volume terms. The Netherlands supplied 52.3% of imports, Sudan 7.1%, and Belgium 2.8%, together accounting for 62.2% of total flows.

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

World map of product's imports to Sub-Saharan Africa in kind, 2017-2020

Imports in value, M $ US

In 2020, the value of onion and shallot imports into Sub-Saharan Africa amounted to 287.0 million US dollars, representing a sharp increase of 33.3% from 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, import value rose by 29.5%, with an average annual growth rate of 9.0%. The lowest value was in 2019, at 215.3 million US dollars, which also recorded the largest decline of 8.6%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Sub-Saharan Africa in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Between 2017 and 2020, the Netherlands, Sudan, and Belgium were the main sources for onion and shallot imports into Sub-Saharan Africa in value terms. The Netherlands accounted for 53.2% of import value, Sudan for 5.9%, and Belgium for 3.2%, collectively making up 62.2% of total flows.

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

World map of product's imports to Sub-Saharan Africa in value, 2017-2020