Senegal Opens Onion Imports to Stabilize Market Despite Record 2025 Harvest.

Senegal has authorized onion imports from September 19 to December 31, 2025, to maintain a stable domestic supply, according to an announcement from the Ministry of Industry and Commerce in partnership with the Market Regulation Agency (ARM) and the Senegal Onion Interprofessional Organization (IPOS).

Onions are Senegal’s most cultivated, consumed, and traded vegetable, making them a cornerstone of the country’s food system.

Record Harvest but Supply Shortfalls

While local production for 2025 is projected at a record 450,000 tonnes, stocks have already been depleted. Officials noted that this output covered national demand for the first nine months of the year, but seasonal gaps left shortages in the final quarter.

Industry Minister Serigne Guèye Diop stated in a circular:

“With the depletion of local stocks observed, it appears necessary to guarantee a regular and adequate supply for the domestic market.”

Dependence on Imports

Senegal has historically relied on external suppliers to fill these seasonal shortages. In 2024, the country imported 177,803 tonnes of onions worth $39 million, according to Trade Map.

The Netherlands dominated supply, accounting for 89.8% (about 155,000 tonnes) of Senegal’s onion imports. Morocco, China, and select European Union countries made up the remainder.

Outlook for 2025

The import authorization signals continued reliance on international trade partnerships to balance domestic food supply, even as Senegal celebrates improved local yields.

Experts suggest that investment in storage facilities, processing infrastructure, and extended growing cycles could reduce dependency on imports in the long term.