Onions

Full flavoured, firm and sweet.

Tasmanian brown onions, some cut in half. Photo: Andrew Wilson.

Tasmania produces onions of exceptional quality. These are shiny, firm and crisp and store particularly well.

Fertile rich, vocanic soils and cool climate allows onions to grow slowly, ensuring good flavour. This, together with an abundance of clean water during the growing period, ensures sweetness, crispness and a longer shelf life.

Tasmanian onion production annually is worth $45 million and contributes 22% of national production. Some 37% of Tasmania’s production is sold in export markets.

Key markets for Tasmania are Thailand, Malaysia, Taiwan, Netherlands and Belgium.

The largest concentration of regional growers is in the Central North West where the majority of vegetable packing and processing operations are based.

Trade data

Main harvest season

November–May

Onions are harvested in these months but available until September for export

Main types

brown, white, red and shallots

Key markets

Local (yes)
Domestic (yes)
Export (yes)

Total production volume of Tasmanian onions 2020/21

60,566MT

Export volume of Tasmanian onions 2020/21

22,406MT

Tasmanian onion exports by market

Thailand

18%
Malaysia

15%
Taiwan

9%
Netherlands

9%
Belguim

8%
France

7%
Indonesia

7%
Singapore

5%
Spain

5%
Norway

3%
Hong Kong

3%
Japan

2%
United Kingdom

2%
Germany

2%
All other

5%

Trade data source

Australian Horticulture Statistics Handbook 2020/21

Pest Free Area status

Being a remote island surrounded by water and aided by a robust biosecurity system, Tasmania remains free from many plant-related pests and diseases. This freedom means our produce can be exported with minimal, if any, phytosanitary treatment.

Major growing regions around the island

Tasmanian onions are grown predominantly in the Central North West, North East and Northern Midlands regions of the state.

Major growing regions around Tasmania for onions.

“Our healthy Tasmanian volcanic red soils and cool growing seasons enable us to produce premium vegetables that are very flavoursome and firm, allowing our produce to store and be exported with excellent outcomes for the purchaser.”

Exporter, North West Tasmania

Import pathways for onions from Tasmania

Map showing Australia, New Zealand, and South East Asian countries

Tasmania’s relative pest free status offers trade opportunities for importing countries seeking access to Tasmanian grown produce.

This information is extracted from the Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry’s Manual of Importing Country Requirements which is frequently updated. Please validate this information before proceeding further.

View these import pathways for all produce types.

Open without restriction
- Hong Kong
- Malaysia
- Singapore
The importing country has no phytosanitary restrictions for entry into the market.
Open with preferential conditions
- European Union
- Indonesia
- Japan
- Myanmar
- Philippines
- South Korea
- Taiwan
- Thailand
- United Arab Emirates
- United Kingdom
- Vietnam
Open to Tasmania, without requiring any phytosanitary treatment.
Open with conditions
- India
Open to Tasmania but requires some phytosanitary treatment.
No existing pathway
- Cambodia
- China
- United States
No arrangements have been developed to make trade between the two countries possible, or trade is currently not allowed.

Through the generations our growers feel the pulse of the seasons and heartbeat of this land. They understand what thrives here — they take the time to grow produce with care. Meet some of our passionate, committed and knowledgeable Tasmanian growers…