IndexBox has just published a new report: ‘World – Garlic – Market Analysis, Forecast, Size, Trends and Insights’. Here is a summary of the report’s key findings.

Global garlic imports rose by 13% to 2.5M tonnes in 2020, boosted by the increased popularity of home cooking and a widespread reputation that the product helps to strengthen immunity. Indonesia remains the largest global importer, followed by Viet Nam and Malaysia. China dominates global garlic exports, supplying 89% of the total volume. Chinese manufacturers managed to ramp up exports which led to a drop in prices. 

Global Garlic Imports

In 2020, approx. 2.5M tonnes of garlic were imported worldwide; increasing by 13% compared with the previous year. The total import volume increased at an average annual rate of +5.5% from 2012 to 2020. In value terms, garlic imports totaled $3B (IndexBox estimates) in 2020.

In 2020, Indonesia (624K tonnes), distantly followed by Viet Nam (254K tonnes), Malaysia (118K tonnes) and Brazil (118K tonnes) represented the major importers of garlic, together making up 44% of total imports. The following importers – Bangladesh (103K tonnes), the U.S. (102K tonnes), Pakistan (101K tonnes), the Philippines (87K tonnes), the United Arab Emirates (70K tonnes), Russia (59K tonnes), Saudi Arabia (53K tonnes), the Netherlands (46K tonnes) and the UK (41K tonnes) – together made up 26% of total imports.

In value terms, Indonesia ($460M), Viet Nam ($305M) and the U.S. ($235M) appeared to be the countries with the highest levels of imports in 2020, with a combined 33% share of global imports. Brazil, Malaysia, Pakistan, the UK, the Netherlands, Russia, the Philippines, Bangladesh, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia lagged somewhat behind, together comprising a further 27%.

Pakistan saw the highest growth rate of the value of imports, in terms of the main importing countries over the period under review, while purchases for the other global leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

China dominates the global exports, supplying 89% of the total volume. Chinese garlic supplies hit record highs of near $2B which provides a solid base for the global surge in demand. The Indonesian market for imported garlic is almost entirely met by supplies from China.

The average garlic import price stood at $1,185 per tonne in 2020, falling by -7.1% against the previous year. From 2012 to 2020, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by the U.S., while the other global leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Source: IndexBox Platform