1. Weekly News

Bangladesh

Bangladesh's Rangpur Region Attained Record Onion Harvest in 2024/25 Rabi Season

Farmers across the five districts of the Rangpur agricultural region gained strong returns in 2025 thanks to record onion production and favorable market prices. According to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), farmers harvested 119,811 metric tons (mt) of onions from 10,223 hectares (ha) during the 2024/25 Rabi season, surpassing 2023/24's output of 118,491 mt from 10,006 ha, and significantly higher than the 104,263 mt from 8,834 ha two seasons ago. Local market prices now range between USD 0.45 and USD 0.49 per kilogram (kg), providing profitable returns for growers. Officials attributed the increase in cultivation and production to effective government initiatives to boost domestic onion self-sufficiency. Agriculture expert, Additional Director of DAE Rangpur, noted that the region had set a production target of 121,151 mt from 10,149 ha for the 2024/25 Rabi season.

Egypt

Onion Production Hits 5 MMT, Export Surplus and Market Expansion Boost Outlook

Egypt’s onion production is thriving, with the Ministry of Agriculture reporting an annual output of 5 million metric tons (mmt). This is sufficient to meet domestic needs and support exports, including 26 thousand mt already shipped in early 2025. The country holds a surplus of 1 mmt for export, highlighting onions as a strategic crop. Researchers are developing new export-oriented varieties with higher dry matter content to enhance shelf life. Egypt’s export momentum strengthened when Costa Rica opened its market to Egyptian onions, following successful negotiations between plant quarantine authorities. The Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation announced the development as part of broader efforts to diversify export destinations and boost foreign currency inflows.

Nigeria

Nigeria's Informal Onion Exports Exceed 1.6 Million Bags in 2025

Citing data from the National Onion Producers, Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria (NOPPMAN), traders informally export over 1.6 million bags of onions from Nigeria to neighboring countries such as Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Benin, Cameroon, Congo, and the Niger Republic in 2025 without official documentation, according to the Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC).. During a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signing with the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), NEPC Executive Director emphasized the need to capture informal trade data, which currently escapes national export statistics despite its significant role in supporting livelihoods, regional supply chains, and economic resilience.

Ukraine

Onion Quality Worsens, Market Oversupplied Ahead of Imports

Many Ukrainian onion producers send their stocks for processing as the quality deteriorates rapidly. Despite this decline, they cannot raise prices because large volumes remain in storage and the market is oversupplied. Farmers report that onions have been the most problematic crop this season, blaming 2024’s overplanting and persistently low prices throughout the marketing period. Current prices range from USD 0.19 to USD 0.34/kg, only slightly higher than the USD 0.17 to USD 0.31/kg seen in late Mar-25 and early Apr-25. The situation may worsen with early imports from Türkiye and Egypt arriving from mid-Apr-25, while domestic winter onions won’t reach the market until late May. If producers cannot clear their old stocks by then, they may have to discard them entirely.

2. Weekly Pricing

Weekly Onion Pricing Important Exporters (USD/kg)

Yearly Change in Onion Pricing Important Exporters (W18 2024 to W18 2025) 

India

In W18, India’s onion prices increased 7.69% week-on-week (WoW), rising to USD 0.14/kg from USD 0.13/kg. This uptick is due to supply-side constraints and seasonal demand factors. Adverse weather, particularly unseasonal rainfall in key growing regions such as Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Madhya Pradesh, has delayed the harvesting of the current crop, leading to tighter domestic supply. These weather disruptions, reduced storage capacity, and transportation difficulties have caused significant delays in onion movement to wholesale markets, exacerbating the price pressure. Furthermore, demand for onions has risen with the approaching summer season, especially from domestic consumers and processing units. The price hike is due to the dwindling stocks from previous harvests, which have intensified market concerns over future availability. Consequently, these factors have led to higher prices, especially in major onion-producing regions, with prices expected to remain elevated until the new harvest becomes more available in the coming months.

Netherlands

In W18, onion prices in the Netherlands jumped to USD 0.47/kg from USD 0.38/kg, marking a 23.68% WoW and 56.67% month-on-month (MoM) increase. The surge stemmed from tight domestic supply and strong export demand. Heavy autumn rains during the 2023/24 season significantly damaged harvests in key producing areas such as Zeeland and Flevoland, slashing marketable stocks by nearly 25% below the five-year average. At the same time, rising shipments to West Africa and Southeast Asia, coupled with an 18% year-on-year (YoY) increase in energy and storage costs, exerted additional upward pressure. If strong export flows persist and domestic availability remains constrained, high prices are likely to continue through mid-2025.

Mexico

In W18, Mexico’s onion prices declined 6.67% WoW and MoM, and 36.36% YoY to USD 0.28/kg. This sharp drop is primarily due to increased domestic availability as peak harvest from key producing states such as Chihuahua, Tamaulipas, and Guanajuato continues to flood the market. Favorable weather conditions in these regions have supported strong yields and timely harvesting, contributing to a seasonal supply glut. Moreover, lower export demand, particularly from the United States (US), has kept more supply within the domestic market, further pushing prices downward. Despite lower prices, quality and volumes remain strong, suggesting that market pressure could persist unless there is a shift in export activity or a weather-related disruption.

Egypt

Egypt's onion prices increased 8.33% WoW and MoM to USD 0.13/kg. The rise is primarily due to a seasonal supply gap as the winter onion crop winds down, and the summer harvest has not yet fully entered the market. The 2025 onion production is expected to remain stable YoY, estimated at around 2.6 mmt. However, transitional periods between harvests typically result in short-term supply tightness. In addition, steady domestic demand and strong export interest from Gulf countries such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are further tightening local availability. This combination of limited fresh supply and robust demand has led to upward price pressure in the wholesale market.

Spain

In W18, Spain's onion prices surged to USD 0.64/kg, rising 6.67% WoW and 23.08% MoM. This sharp increase is due to tightening supplies as the 2024/25 onion marketing season transitions between the late winter crop and the upcoming early summer harvest. The 2025 Spanish onion production is expected to be slightly lower than last year due to reduced planted area and delayed sowing in key regions like Castilla-La Mancha and Andalucía, caused by earlier excessive rainfall. Moreover, strong export demand from European markets such as France and Germany has reduced domestic availability. These combined factors have contributed to the upward pressure on prices.

3. Actionable Recommendations

Strengthen Data Collection and Trade Monitoring

Nigeria’s onion industry faces challenges in capturing the full scale of informal trade, impacting market data and policy-making. To address this, the Nigerian government should collaborate with regional trade bodies and the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) to establish a digital platform for tracking informal onion exports. By leveraging technology, this platform can record cross-border trade in real-time, enabling a more accurate understanding of the onion supply chain. The expected benefit of this initiative is that it will provide clear insights into informal market activities, which often go unrecorded, and help adjust export strategies and domestic policies accordingly. This will better support local farmers, streamline supply chain management, and improve market predictions, ultimately enhancing the resilience and profitability of the onion sector.

Promote Storage and Processing Technologies

Ukraine experienced an oversupply of onions and rapid quality deterioration due to inadequate storage and processing facilities. Farmers were unable to raise prices because their stocks are perishable, leading to potential waste. To mitigate this issue, Ukraine should implement training programs focused on cold storage management and invest in onion processing technologies like dehydration and canning. These technologies would allow farmers to store their onions longer without compromising quality, reducing waste. Moreover, processing onions into products like onion powder or canned onions would provide alternative revenue streams and enable growers to better time their market entry. This approach would help stabilize the market by aligning supply with demand and increasing the value of the onions, thus ensuring higher profitability even during times of surplus.

Diversify Export Markets and Strengthen Brand Recognition

Egypt is a key player in the global onion market, with a significant surplus for export. However, the country could further increase its export potential by diversifying its markets and strengthening its onion brand. To achieve this, Egypt should develop targeted marketing campaigns highlighting the onion quality and unique attributes, such as the newly developed export-oriented varieties with longer shelf life. Moreover, the country should work on expanding its presence in Asian and African markets while reinforcing ties with existing export partners in the Gulf region. By diversifying its export base, Egypt can reduce its reliance on a few buyers, leading to more stable and consistent demand. Strengthening Egypt’s onion export brand will also enable the country to command premium prices in international markets, boost foreign currency inflows, and enhance the competitiveness of Egyptian onions on the global stage.

Sources: Tridge, Agro News, BSS News, Fresh Plaza, New Telegraph