Due to limited availability and higher prices, almost 8 percent fewer onions were sold overseas in the first half of the 2022-2023 sales season. This can be seen from the export data of the Dutch Handelskoepel Onion Association (HOA).
The export counter for Dutch onions is 764,000 tons from the beginning of July until the end of 2022. This is more than 50,000 tons less than last year in the first half of the marketing season. The smaller export volume is partly a consequence of a smaller harvest in 2022.
In October, the Central Bureau of Statistics set a preliminary estimate for the onion crop in the Netherlands at 1.2 million tonnes. This is 250,000 tons less than the final figures for the 2021 crop.
Maximum up to 50 euros
Limited supply and continued export demand are driving above-average prices depending on the onion crop. Offshore prices range from 20 to 25 euros per 100 kilograms, and sometimes more. As the season progressed, the price of onions only increased, reaching up to 50 euros for 100 kg of the coarsest yellow onion. Prices have been a few euros lower in recent weeks as demand from abroad has eased somewhat.
In the first six months of the marketing season, Senegal is the largest buyer of Dutch onions, followed by Côte d’Ivoire and the UK. Of these top 3, West African countries have purchased slightly fewer onions so far than last year. Sales to Senegal fell by more than 18 percent, while Côte d’Ivoire declined by 8 percent. For 78,000 tons, the British bought almost 8,000 tons more onions from the Netherlands.
Export to 123 countries
In total, Dutch trading companies have so far exported onions to 123 countries. Belgium is a notable leader on the export ladder with sales of 36,500 tons. This is almost twice as much as last year in the first half of the season. The Dominican Republic is also consuming seriously more onions, up nearly 24,000 tons, than in the 2021-2022 season. Mali and Haiti were hardest hit, with sales down 48 and 54 percent respectively.
