Analysis Onions
Onion exporters have flown over a significant hurdle
It was a hurdle that the Dutch onion exporters just couldn't get over this season: a weekly export of 40,000 tons. This barrier, however, came close a few times. Until the latest export figure. In week 46, the exporters exceeded it by far.
The export figure for week 46 amounts to 43,601 tons, according to the figures from KCB/GroentenFruit Huis. Last year in this week, over 29,000 tons of onions were exported, and the five-year average stands at 37,328 tons. Considering these figures, the positive mood in the onion world in recent weeks has been justified. In total, 541,954 tons of onions have been exported this season. This puts the export 60,000 tons ahead of last season. Compared to 2020, 2021, and 2022, the export is approximately 40,000 tons behind.
Senegal
Senegal accounted for 30% of the Dutch onion export in week 46, which is 13,150 tons. Ivory Coast followed at a distance, importing 5,700 tons, and Guinea with 3,047 tons. Great Britain, which pulled quite a bit of Dutch onions earlier this season, has declined and is ranked 7th this week with 1,889 tons. Half of the top ten consists of West African countries.
There is occasionally some discussion in the onion market about foreign onions processed through Dutch channels and re-exported. KCB/GroentenFruit Huis provides insight into this this week. From week 29 to week 45, 29,146 tons of foreign onions passed through the Netherlands. More than half of this, namely 15,720 tons, comes from Belgium. Germany follows with 8,334 tons. Additionally, Egypt, France, and New Zealand are among the major suppliers of onions to the Netherlands.
