Senegal Lifts Freeze on Onion Imports to Stabilize Market Supply
By Mariama Dieme, World-Today-News.com
the Ministry of Industry and Commerce of Senegal has announced the lifting of a freeze on onion imports, effective friday, September 19, 2025. The decision, communicated via a circular letter, aims to ensure a consistent and adequate supply of onions to the domestic market.
A previous marketing campaign, initiated on January 25, 2025, relied on local production to meet national demand for nine months. However, with local stocks dwindling, the government deemed intervention necessary to prevent potential shortages.
The Market Regulatory Agency (ARM), in collaboration with the Oignon Interprofession of Senegal (IPOS), spearheaded the decision to resume imports. Minister serigne Gueye Diop’s department issued the directive, calling on relevant services to facilitate it’s implementation.
While the import freeze has been lifted,authorizations will be subject to quotas and will remain valid until December 31,2025. This timeframe is intended to provide a structured approach to managing import volumes.
| Key Dates | Event |
|---|---|
| January 25, 2025 | Onion import freeze implemented, relying on local production. |
| September 19,2025 | Freeze on onion imports lifted. |
| December 31, 2025 | Import authorizations expire. |
This move follows earlier discussions regarding the potential for shortages, as highlighted in a recent report by lesoleil, which detailed concerns about dwindling local stocks.
