The onion is original from Asia, concretely from Iran and Pakistan, and it is known since 6,000 B.C. From this continent it spreaded to Europe, thanks to the Romans, and then to America. Nowadays, it is mainly cultivated in Asia. The main producing countries are China, India, the United States and Turkey.

It is a very old vegetable, and it was already cultivated by the Sumerians in 6,000 B.C. The Egyptians knew it since 5,000 B.C., appearing in wall paintings. The Greeks and the Romans consumed it, and were the first to spread its consumption all over the north of Europe. From this continent it arrived at America.

Onions are mainly cultivated in Asia, representing 60% of the world production.

The world production is:

Continent	Thousand tons	%
Africa	3,446	8
Asia	27,029	61
Europe	6,861	16
North America	3,389	8
Oceania	219	-
South America	2,973	7
Total	43,917	100

Source: Fresh Produce Desk Book (1999)

The 10 main producing countries are:

Country	Thousand tons
China	10,044
India	4,429
The United States	2,750
Turkey	2,300
Iran	1,540
Japan	1,240
Pakistan	1,177
Russia	1,100
Spain	985
Korea	872

Source: FAO Production Yearbook, 1998

As it may be observed, China produces almost the fourth part of the world’s onions. Almost all the countries in the table are Asian, except for the United States, that is the third producing country, Russia and Spain.

The 10 main exporting countries are:

Country	Thousand tons
The Netherlands	484
Argentina	405
Mexico	306
The United States	289
Spain	239
New Zealand	163
Egypt	150
India	149
Turkey	144
China	134

Source: FAO Trade Yearbook, 1998