United Arab Emirates: Dried Onion Market 2025

Dried Onion Market Size in the United Arab Emirates

The dried onion market in the United Arab Emirates dropped markedly to $X in 2021, shrinking by -33.3% against the previous year. This figure reflects the total revenues of producers and importers (excluding logistics costs, retail marketing costs, and retailers' margins, which will be included in the final consumer price). Overall, consumption showed a perceptible setback. Over the period under review, the market reached the peak level at $X in 2013; however, from 2014 to 2021, consumption failed to regain momentum.

Dried Onion Exports

Exports from the United Arab Emirates

In 2021, overseas shipments of dried onions decreased by -77.2% to X tons for the first time since 2018, thus ending a two-year rising trend. Overall, exports recorded a deep setback. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2019 with an increase of 111%. The exports peaked at X tons in 2020, and then plummeted in the following year.

In value terms, dried onion exports reduced notably to $X in 2021. Over the period under review, exports showed a noticeable reduction. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2017 with an increase of 147%. As a result, the exports attained the peak of $X. From 2018 to 2021, the growth of the exports remained at a somewhat lower figure.

Exports by Country

Oman (X tons) was the main destination for dried onion exports from the United Arab Emirates, with a 42% share of total exports. Moreover, dried onion exports to Oman exceeded the volume sent to the second major destination, Saudi Arabia (X tons), twofold. The third position in this ranking was held by Bahrain (X tons), with a 9.8% share.

From 2012 to 2021, the average annual rate of growth in terms of volume to Oman amounted to +4.1%. Exports to the other major destinations recorded the following average annual rates of exports growth: Saudi Arabia (+66.1% per year) and Bahrain (+72.9% per year).

In value terms, Oman ($X) remains the key foreign market for dried onion exports from the United Arab Emirates, comprising 35% of total exports. The second position in the ranking was taken by Saudi Arabia ($X), with a 17% share of total exports. It was followed by Canada, with a 15% share.

From 2012 to 2021, the average annual rate of growth in terms of value to Oman stood at +8.7%. Exports to the other major destinations recorded the following average annual rates of exports growth: Saudi Arabia (+58.2% per year) and Canada (-9.8% per year).

Export Prices by Country

In 2021, the average dried onion export price amounted to $X per ton, surging by 181% against the previous year. Overall, the export price continues to indicate noticeable growth. As a result, the export price reached the peak level and is likely to continue growth in the immediate term.

Prices varied noticeably country of destination: the country with the highest price was the United States ($X per ton), while the average price for exports to Uganda ($X per ton) was amongst the lowest.

From 2012 to 2021, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was recorded for supplies to Canada (+29.5%), while the prices for the other major destinations experienced more modest paces of growth.

Dried Onion Imports

Imports into the United Arab Emirates

In 2021, approx. X tons of dried onions were imported into the United Arab Emirates; reducing by -43.2% compared with 2020. Overall, imports recorded a perceptible reduction. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2020 with an increase of 155%. Imports peaked at X tons in 2013; however, from 2014 to 2021, imports failed to regain momentum.

In value terms, dried onion imports dropped significantly to $X in 2021. Over the period under review, imports showed a mild setback. The pace of growth appeared the most rapid in 2020 when imports increased by 85%. Over the period under review, imports attained the maximum at $X in 2013; however, from 2014 to 2021, imports stood at a somewhat lower figure.

Imports by Country

In 2021, India (X tons) constituted the largest dried onion supplier to the United Arab Emirates, accounting for a 47% share of total imports. Moreover, dried onion imports from India exceeded the figures recorded by the second-largest supplier, Oman (X tons), twofold. Egypt (X tons) ranked third in terms of total imports with a 15% share.

From 2012 to 2021, the average annual rate of growth in terms of volume from India totaled +25.4%. The remaining supplying countries recorded the following average annual rates of imports growth: Oman (+81.9% per year) and Egypt (+191.2% per year).

In value terms, India ($X), Egypt ($X) and the United States ($X) appeared to be the largest dried onion suppliers to the United Arab Emirates, with a combined 87% share of total imports. These countries were followed by France, Oman and Pakistan, which together accounted for a further 7.2%.

France, with a CAGR of +174.8%, saw the highest rates of growth with regard to the value of imports, among the main suppliers over the period under review, while purchases for the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Import Prices by Country

In 2021, the average dried onion import price amounted to $X per ton, rising by 20% against the previous year. In general, import price indicated mild growth from 2012 to 2021: its price increased at an average annual rate of +1.9% over the last nine-year period. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. Based on 2021 figures, dried onion import price decreased by -12.8% against 2019 indices. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2019 an increase of 93%. As a result, import price reached the peak level of $X per ton. From 2020 to 2021, the average import prices failed to regain momentum.

Prices varied noticeably country of origin: the country with the highest price was France ($X per ton), while the price for Oman ($X per ton) was amongst the lowest.

From 2012 to 2021, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by France (+34.5%), while the prices for the other major suppliers experienced mixed trend patterns.

Source: IndexBox Platform

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