Onions, dry production in South Africa
In 2024 South Africa produced 718,569 t of onions, dry, the 31st largest in the world (0.66% of the world total). Over ten years it grew by 12%. The record was 748,421 t in 2019. Area harvested: 28,523 ha, yield 25.2 t/ha.
- Production, 2024
- 718,569 t
- World rank
- 31 of 139
- 10-year change
- +12%
- Record
- 748,421 t
- 2019
Onions, dry in South Africa, 1961–2024 (tonnes)
South Africa compared with the world, 2024
- Share of world total
- 0.66%
- 0.72% in 2014
- Yield, t/ha
- 25.2
- world 18.9 (+33%)
- kg per person
- 11.2
- world 13.3
- 10-year change
- +12%
- world +21%
Position in the world ranking
| # | Country | Tonnes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 29 | Tajikistan | 725,904 | 0.67% |
| 30 | Colombia | 724,433 | 0.67% |
| 31 | South Africa | 718,569 | 0.66% |
| 32 | Argentina | 682,424 | 0.63% |
| 33 | Poland | 676,800 | 0.63% |
Map of world production of onions, dry
Share of the world total; South Africa is outlined. Small island states are not drawn at this scale.
By year
| Year | Tonnes | Change | Area harvested, ha | Yield, t/ha |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 718,569 | +8.0% | 28,523 | 25.19 |
| 2023 | 665,436 | −4.0% | 26,550 | 25.06 |
| 2022 | 693,340 | −5.5% | 27,806 | 24.93 |
| 2021 | 733,383 | +1.0% | 29,448 | 24.90 |
| 2020 | 726,226 | −3.0% | 29,508 | 24.61 |
| 2019 | 748,421 | +3.0% | 30,670 | 24.40 |
| 2018 | 726,841 | +1.5% | 29,961 | 24.26 |
| 2017 | 716,201 | +4.5% | 29,723 | 24.10 |
| 2016 | 685,605 | −2.1% | 28,532 | 24.03 |
| 2015 | 700,221 | +9.1% | 29,041 | 24.11 |
| 2014 | 642,081 | +9.8% | 26,781 | 23.98 |
| 2013 | 584,971 | −7.6% | 24,399 | 23.98 |
| 2012 | 633,297 | +7.9% | 26,718 | 23.70 |
| 2011 | 586,995 | +13% | 25,096 | 23.39 |
| 2010 | 518,284 | +12% | 22,681 | 22.85 |
| 2009 | 461,548 | −7.0% | 20,500 | 22.51 |
| 2008 | 496,425 | +15% | 22,000 | 22.56 |
| 2007 | 432,901 | +7.4% | 19,000 | 22.78 |
| 2006 | 403,191 | +4.1% | 18,000 | 22.40 |
| 2005 | 387,270 | −4.0% | 16,088 | 24.07 |
| 2004 | 403,202 | +12% | 18,587 | 21.69 |
| 2003 | 360,387 | +4.7% | 17,456 | 20.65 |
| 2002 | 344,053 | +3.5% | 18,000 | 19.11 |
| 2001 | 332,421 | +1.0% | 17,693 | 18.79 |
| 2000 | 329,000 | −17% | 19,000 | 17.32 |
| 1999 | 397,789 | +13% | 20,000 | 19.89 |
| 1998 | 350,629 | +11% | 19,000 | 18.45 |
| 1997 | 315,705 | +13% | 17,000 | 18.57 |
| 1996 | 279,012 | −4.6% | 14,553 | 19.17 |
| 1995 | 292,393 | +18% | 15,000 | 19.49 |
| 1994 | 246,899 | −2.8% | 12,817 | 19.26 |
| 1993 | 253,916 | +8.5% | 13,000 | 19.53 |
| 1992 | 233,944 | −3.6% | 12,293 | 19.03 |
| 1991 | 242,658 | +6.3% | 12,852 | 18.88 |
| 1990 | 228,189 | +12% | 12,000 | 19.02 |
| 1989 | 203,964 | +0.9% | 11,000 | 18.54 |
| 1988 | 202,133 | +15% | 11,000 | 18.38 |
| 1987 | 175,427 | +0.8% | 10,000 | 17.54 |
| 1986 | 174,000 | −1.1% | 10,000 | 17.40 |
| 1985 | 176,000 | +1.7% | 10,000 | 17.60 |
| 1984 | 173,000 | +4.2% | 9,500 | 18.21 |
| 1983 | 166,000 | +9.9% | 9,000 | 18.44 |
| 1982 | 151,000 | −0.7% | 8,000 | 18.88 |
| 1981 | 152,000 | +7.0% | 8,000 | 19.00 |
| 1980 | 142,000 | −6.0% | 7,000 | 20.29 |
| 1979 | 151,000 | +14% | 8,000 | 18.88 |
| 1978 | 133,000 | −4.3% | 9,000 | 14.78 |
| 1977 | 139,000 | −1.4% | 9,000 | 15.44 |
| 1976 | 141,000 | +19% | 9,000 | 15.67 |
| 1975 | 118,000 | +9.3% | 8,000 | 14.75 |
| 1974 | 108,000 | −14% | 8,000 | 13.50 |
| 1973 | 126,000 | +29% | 8,000 | 15.75 |
| 1972 | 98,000 | −6.7% | 7,000 | 14.00 |
| 1971 | 105,000 | −7.1% | 7,000 | 15.00 |
| 1970 | 113,000 | +2.7% | 8,000 | 14.13 |
| 1969 | 110,000 | +15% | 6,000 | 18.33 |
| 1968 | 96,000 | +16% | 7,000 | 13.71 |
| 1967 | 83,000 | +9.2% | 7,000 | 11.86 |
| 1966 | 76,000 | −8.4% | 7,000 | 10.86 |
| 1965 | 83,000 | +9.2% | 7,000 | 11.86 |
| 1964 | 76,000 | 0.0% | 5,000 | 15.20 |
| 1963 | 76,000 | +2.7% | 5,826 | 13.04 |
| 1962 | 74,000 | +12% | 5,826 | 12.70 |
| 1961 | 66,000 | — | 4,370 | 15.10 |
Trade, 2024
- Exports
- 138,693 t USD 34.0 m
- Exporter rank
- 16 of 117
- Imports
- 4,531 t USD 2.9 m
- Importer rank
- 104 of 165
FAOSTAT detailed trade data, release of 23 July 2026; quantities in tonnes, values in current US dollars; exports include re-exports. World exporters and importers
Questions and answers
What is the production of onions, dry in South Africa?
South Africa produced 718,569 t in 2024, 0.66% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.
Where does South Africa rank in the world for production of onions, dry?
South Africa ranked 31st of 139 countries in 2024. The largest producer was India with 22.4% of the world total.
How has the production of onions, dry in South Africa changed?
It rose by 12% between 2014 and 2024, compared with +21% for the world. The record was 748,421 t in 2019.
What is the yield of onions, dry in South Africa?
25.2 tonnes per hectare in 2024 (718,569 t from 28,523 ha), against a world average of 18.9 t/ha.
Does South Africa export or import onions and shallots, dry (excluding dehydrated)?
In 2024 South Africa reported exports of 138,693 t (USD 34.0 m) and imports of 4,531 t (USD 2.9 m), according to FAOSTAT trade data.
Where does this data come from?
From FAOSTAT, the statistics database of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Shares, ranks and per-person figures are calculated by Husfarm.
Other large producers
Source: FAO. 2025. FAOSTAT: Crops and livestock products. Accessed on 4 November 2026. fao.org/faostat. Licence: CC BY 4.0. Charts, rankings and changes calculated by Husfarm.