In ten years, the world's population will eat an average of 15 kilos of onions per year. Currently, consumption is still around 12,5 to 13 kilos per person. The biggest eaters aren't even from Africa, although that's where most Dutch onions are shipped.
Figures from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) indicate that onion consumption is increasing by more than 1,5% annually. Significantly more onions were consumed in 2020, the year of the coronavirus pandemic, but consumption also rose sharply in 2022.
Although production has increased slightly faster than consumption over the past ten years, there is a strong correlation between the two. For example, in 2020 and 2022, production increased by 4,5% to 5%, which led to a 4% to 4,5% increase in consumption in those years. Because onions have a limited shelf life, years of stagnant production also directly impact the amount of onions consumed.
Population growth and increasing spending power provide the basis for a further increase in food consumption. A growth forecast of 1,5% is considered a conservative scenario. If production increases at the same rate, approximately 136 million tons of onions will be harvested worldwide in ten years. However, if production continues to grow at the same rate as it has over the past ten years, that amount could easily reach 155 million tons.
In the Netherlands, production fluctuates considerably. Significant increases (for example, in 2021, 2024, and 2025) alternate with even sharper declines in dry years (such as 2018 and 2022). All in all, there is still growth of around 5% per year over a long period. This year, the Netherlands will produce 1,73 million tons of seed onions and over 300.000 tons of set onions.
Share of less than 2%
This gives our country a share of less than 2% of global onion production. India is the largest producer with approximately 30 million tons, followed by China with an estimated 25 million tons. These two countries far outnumber the others in terms of production, with Egypt and the United States following behind with 3,3 to 3,8 million tons. Turkey and Bangladesh each produce around 2,6 million tons. The Netherlands, with approximately 2 million tons of seed and planting onions, is closing in on the top 10.
As erratic as production patterns are in the Netherlands, so too are the differences in consumption trends worldwide. There are countries where onion consumption is increasing, while others are consuming fewer onions each year.
Avid onion eaters
The most ardent onion eaters aren't Africans, but the people of Tajikistan. The nearly 11 million inhabitants of this Asian country eat an average of 57 kilos of onions per person per year. People in Niger, located in Africa (south of Algeria and Libya), eat slightly fewer onions per person, at around 50 kilos, but they are more numerous. That country has approximately 28 million consumers. Number three belongs to Asia again; the 21 million Kazakhs each eat 43 kilos per person.
The Netherlands' largest onion consumer, Senegal, ranks sixth on this list with an average of 31 kilos per person. The 19 million Senegalese consume Dutch onions en masse from September through January, generating sales of approximately 180.000 tons of Dutch produce. In the intervening period (from late January through August), they eat their own harvest.
In recent years, Ivory Coast has been sourcing a similar quantity of onions from the Netherlands as Senegal. This quantity, however, is spread out over a longer period. Moreover, there are more Ivorians, some 33 million in total. Recent figures are lacking, but they certainly eat more than the 5 kilos reported by the FAO for 2017.
Strongest consumption growth
The strongest consumption growth is seen in Tajikistan, Niger, and Kazakhstan, where people are easily eating 20 kilos more onions per year than ten years ago. Egypt is a major producer, with 3,8 million tons, but Egyptians also eat a lot of them. They now eat around 26 kilos, down from about 10 kilos less ten years ago. A similar increase is seen in Bangladesh, from 9 to 18 to 19 kilos.
India is also seeing growth, from around 11,5 to 17,5 kilograms. This is less than the previously mentioned countries, but with a population of one and a half billion, this increase is significant. China's 1,4 billion people are seeing a slight increase in consumption to between 14 and 15 kilograms. Russia, Romania, Peru, Turkmenistan, Morocco, and Greece have all significantly reduced their onion consumption.
Germans and French
Closer to home, Germans and French have started eating more onions. In Germany, onions are being grown more and more, but they're also appearing more frequently on their plates. Ten years ago, they ate around 7 kilos; now that's risen to 10 kilos. The French also eat ten kilos, making the difference even greater than in Germany compared to ten years ago. The Portuguese eat slightly more onions than the French and Germans, but their onion intake has decreased significantly compared to years ago.
Despite the growth in many countries, there are also areas where onions are eaten little or not at all. In Honduras, people eat barely one kilogram of onions per year, and in Norway, too, onions are far from popular, with an annual consumption of 1,3 kilograms.