ONION PROCESSING INDUSTRY

Onions may be used to make a wide range of items. Fresh onions, onion paste, dehydrated onion flakes, onion powder, onion oil, onion vinegar, onion sauce, pickled onion, onion wine and beverage, and other minimally processed fresh onions, onion paste, dehydrated onion flakes, onion powder, onion oil, onion vinegar, onion sauce, pickled onion, onion wine and beverage, and so on. The demand for processed items is growing by the day due to their ease of handling and use. Approximately 6.75 percent of the onion produced is processed, according to estimates (by counting total losses, consumption, export and bulb seed requirement the remaining percentage is considered for processing).

Minimally Processed Onions: These are ready-to-use peeled and/or cut onions that preserve their freshness, packed in appropriate packing material, and stored in refrigerated or frozen settings.

Onion Paste: Onion is grounded while yet remaining fresh. To extend the shelf life of minimally processed onions and onion paste, the use of appropriate preservatives and packaging materials must be optimised.

Dehydrated Onions: Dehydrating onions reduces the weight of the onions for transport and also extends their shelf life by removing moisture, which stops microbial growth. By grinding dehydrated onion flakes properly, onion powder can be made.

Pickles: In comparison to onion flakes, onion powder dissolves quickly and can be reconstituted. Onion powder is used to add onion flavour to a range of cuisines. Because dried onion flakes and powder are particularly hygroscopic, it is critical to use appropriate packaging procedures to extend their shelf life.

Oil: The procedure of pickling onions is an age-old method of preserving onions. Vinegar-based pickling and oil-based pickling are the most common types of onion pickling. While vinegar-based pickling is popular in the United States and Europe, Asia and Africa prefer oil-based pickling. It’s another flavouring ingredient that’s commonly found in processed food spices. In some food products, onion oil is utilised as a natural food preservative. Distillation, solvent extraction, supercritical fluid extraction, and other processes can all be used to extract onion oil.

Vinegar/Beverage/Sauce:  Onions may be turned into onion vinegar and onion wine since they are high in sugars and other nutrients. Onions can also be made into onion sauce and onion beverage.

GLOBAL ONION PRODUCTS MARKET OUTLOOK

Onion Powder- Onion powder, which is made by dehydrating fresh onions, has become a popular commodity not only in urban households but also in the worldwide food processing business. Dehydration decreases the water content of fresh onions without affecting their nutritious content, resulting in a hygienic product of standard grade. Dehydrated onion flakes can be crushed and coarsely processed to make onion powder after being dehydrated. Because onions are seasonal and cannot be stored under normal conditions, dehydration has shown to be an excellent and cost-effective method of preserving and using them during peak seasons. Although the worldwide onion powder market is still significantly smaller than the global onion market, it is growing at a healthy 5 percent per year.

The Global Dry Onion Market is expected to increase at a rate of 6.4 percent. To make a dry onion, it is heated to a very low temperature until all of the moisture is evaporated. The drying procedure aids in the long-term storage of onions. Dry onion is used in a variety of processed and non-processed foods such as sauces, soups, salads, gravies, meats, seafood, and so on. Although dry onions are less aromatic than fresh onions, they nonetheless offer a lot of flavour to a variety of dishes. Dry onions, in addition to adding flavour, have a number of nutritional benefits, including being high in potassium, magnesium, and calcium. Dry onion also has a minimal calorie, fat, and salt content. As a result, the majority of people are turning to dry onion as a key ingredient in their cuisine. Dry onions are rapidly being used in numerous meals by the global food processing industry.

The Market for Dehydrated Onions is growing steadily at a CAGR of 5.1 percent. The expansion of the dehydrated onions market has been accelerated by rising consumer awareness of nutritious diets and enhanced shelf life of dehydrated food products. Dehydrated onions have a variety of health benefits, including cough and cold treatment, cancer prevention, and diabetes management. For the foreseeable future, these advantages will drive sales potential. Dehydrated veggies also have a longer shelf life, which provides logistical advantages. As a result of the multiple advantages of dehydration technology, the market for dehydrated onions is rising in lockstep with the market for dehydrated vegetables.

INDIAN MARKET OUTLOOK

The size of the Indian onion powder market is expected to increase at a CAGR of 6%. India’s onion powder sector is contributing to the global market’s expansion. Gujarat leads the sector, with the biggest market share in India. Due to multiple advantages, such as ease of transportation, extended shelf life, low calorie content, and wide availability, the product is widely used in India for a variety of culinary uses. The increasing usage of onion powder in the production of ready-to-cook food products such as noodles, oats, pasta, instant mixes, and frozen food items drives the Indian onion powder market. Rapid urbanisation, a growing working population, and stressful work schedules all contribute to the growth of these items. Onion powder is also used to prepare fish, appetisers, and meat in dry rubs, spices, marinades, and sauces. Consumers are increasingly preferring to use this product since it saves time and relieves them of the tough process of chopping onions for cooking purposes, which helps the sector flourish. Manufacturers in the food business are changing to match the Indian criteria for processed foods, which is moving the industry forward. The Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) is encouraging the expansion of this industry by increasing investments, which would help the market for onion powder in India grow even faster.

Dehydrated Onions Market in India

India is the world’s second largest producer of dried onions, in addition to being one of the top five onion producers. The price fluctuation of onions, on the other hand, presents a high-potential chance to encourage dried onion consumption practically every year. Dehydrated onion sales are not skyrocketing, despite the fact that onion prices continue to fluctuate owing to seasonal pressure. Through promotional activities targeted at families, dry onion manufacturers are attempting to recover a lost opportunity due to a relatively low awareness of the benefits of eating dry onions. However, strong demand from ready-to-cook food providers, processed food producers, hotels and restaurants, and large-scale masala manufacturers is likely to drive revenue. One of India’s largest dehydration plants also confirms that the price of dehydrated onions is unaffected by seasonal variations in onion prices, as most producers choose to start procuring at the start of the season, when prices are low. In addition to financial support from the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (Apeda) for awareness and promotional activities, the government is expected to gradually increase its encouragement. Furthermore, manufacturers are focusing more on research and development to advertise dehydrated items as nutritious foods. The majority of manufacturing enterprises are focusing on expanding their export, trade, and production facilities.

TOP PLAYERS WORLDWIDE

• Balkrishna Agro
• BC Foods Inc.
• Cascade Specialties Inc.
• Daksh Foods Pvt. Ltd.
• Darshan Foods Pvt. Ltd.
• Earth Expo Company
• Foodchem International Corporation
• Garon Dehydrates Private Limited
• German Foods
• Green Rootz
• Gujarat Agro Exports Ltd.
• Gujarat Dehyd Foods Ltd.
• Harmony House Foods, Inc. Company
• Jain Farm Fresh Foods Ltd
• Jain Irrigation Systems Pvt. Ltd
• Jiyan Food Ingredients
• Kings Dehydrated Foods Pvt. Ltd
• Kisan Foods
• Murtuza Foods Pvt. Ltd.
• Natural Dehydrated Vegetables Private Limited
• Olam International
• Pardes Dehydration Company
• J. Van Drunen & Sons, Inc.
• Real Dehydrates Pvt. Ltd.
• Rocky Mountain Spice Company
• Saipro Biotech Private Limited
• Shreeji Dehydrate
• Silva International Inc. Company
• Suszarnia Warzyw Jaworski Sp. J.
• Vakil Foods
• Vibrant Dehydro Foods Pvt. Ltd
• Vinayak Ingredients (Indian) Pvt. Ltd.