Learn about the largest producers and exporters of onions in the world, including two Arab countries

Rome – Onions are one of the basic crops for people because they are associated with health benefits, especially in the holy month of Ramadan, in addition to economic benefits. They are also among the basics of food cultures in the world.

In this topic, we discuss the countries that produce the most onions in the world, according to the database of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), which periodically publishes onion statistics and the largest producing countries.

1- The countries that produce the most onions in the world

The FAO database indicates that 2022 is the most recent year included in onion production statistics. What is interesting is that the organization did not mention onions alone in the list of the most produced in the world, but they came in conjunction with leeks without mentioning the reasons, according to the following:

• India 131.7 million tons.
• China 24.60 million tons.
• Egypt 3.66 million tons.
• United States 2.91 million tons.
• Bangladesh 2.51 million tons.
• Türkiye 2.35 million tons.
• Pakistan 2 million tons.
• Indonesia 1.98 million tons.
• Iran 1.9 million tons.
• Algeria 1.76 million tons.

The following is the ranking of the regions in the world that produce the most onions and leeks in 2022:

• Asia 69.1%.
• Africa 13.5%.
• Europe 8.6%.
• The Americas 8.5%.
• Oceania (Australia, Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia) 0.3%.

2- The countries that export the most onions in the world

As for the countries that export the most onions in 2022, a detailed list was provided on the “World Integrated Trade Solutions” website, which is a tool affiliated with the World Bank that aims to collect trade statistics and definitions in cooperation with many parties, according to the following:

The 20 countries that export the most onions in 2022 in the world in terms of total value:

• India: $167.77 million.
• United States: $89.38 million.
• China: $65.5 million.
• Egypt: $56.72 million.
• Germany: $25 million.
• France: $22 million.
• European Union: $20.85 million.
• Spain: $17.76 million.
• Malaysia: $14.41 million.
• Netherlands: $13 million.

The Arab countries that export the most onions in terms of revenue in 2022:

• Egypt: $56.72 million.
• UAE: 689.52 thousand dollars.
• Lebanon: 203.53 thousand dollars.
• Bahrain: 43.13 thousand dollars.
• Jordan: $42.91 thousand.
• Kuwait: 35.61 thousand dollars.

What is the importance of onions?

The onion is a biennial herbaceous plant of the Amaryllis family that is grown for its edible bulb. The onion is likely native to southwest Asia, but it is now grown all over the world, especially in temperate regions, according to the British Encyclopedia Limited (Britannica).

Onions are valued for their flavor and are widely used in cooking. They add flavor to dishes such as stews, roasts, soups and salads, and are also served as a cooked vegetable.

Most commercially grown onions are grown from the plant’s tiny black seeds, which are sown directly in the field, but onions can also be grown from small bulbs or from organ transplants.

history

Onions are one of the oldest cultivated plants in the world, and they were likely known in India, China, and the Middle East before recorded history. The ancient Egyptians considered the spherical lamp a symbol of the universe, and the concentric spheres of the Aristotelian universe were likened to an onion.

Its name likely derives from the Latin word unus, meaning “one.” The Romans introduced onions to Britain, and in the New World, Native Americans added extremely pungent wild onions to the new land.

Onion products

Most whole onions are dried slightly before being marketed, leaving their skin dry and paper-thin. Onions are also available in various processed forms. Boiled and pickled onions are packed in cans or jars, frozen onions are available cut or whole, and bottled onion juice is sold for use as a flavoring.

Dried onion products have been available since the 1930s. These products include granulated, ground, chopped, chopped, and sliced ​​forms. Onion powder is made by grinding dried onions and is sometimes packaged with salt. Dried onion products are used in a variety of prepared foods and are also sold directly. For the consumer to use as a spice.