During the 2015/16 season, the Netherlands exported a record volume of 1,035 million kilograms of onions to 119 countries. This morning, Gijsbrecht Gunter, chairman of the onion trade committee of GroentenFruit Huis, dilated upon the success of the Dutch onion. “In the last ten years the Dutch onion sector annually increased by two to four per cent in volume. Total export amounts to close on 20,000 tonnes per week. This means the onion is the largest fresh produce export product in the Netherlands.”
Gunter explained that the increase is in part thanks to the growing population of the world, especially in countries where people consume many onions. “Besides, we have the opportunity to send onions to all four corners of the world year-round. The fact that the ports of Rotterdam, Vlissingen and Antwerp are this close by, means that the onions can be sent all over the world. Many containers are shipped to Europe and regrouped, resulting in great opportunities for the onions to be shipped back to destinations such as Asia and Central America at competitive prices.”
According to Gunter there is an increasing diversification in the demand for onions. “For example, Brazil wants nice, large, white onions, while Africa, on the other hand, wants a small onion because they are sold individually there. The UK prefers bronze-coloured onions, but Germany prefers a mid to large-sized, white onion. These are all matters the Netherlands manages to anticipate.”
When asked if onions have a decent margin, Gunter answers: “Onion cultivation increased from 15,000 to 25,000 hectares, and that is naturally not due to poverty. But the returns must be seen over a number of seasons. One year could be very bad, the next could be very good. On average, over the years, onions are one of the most profitable crops. But it is of the utmost importance to keep quality high, for that is our most important asset.”