In the first half of this year, Poland recorded a significant reduction in the volume of onion imports, according to EastFruit experts, citing updated data from the Central Statistical Office of the Country (GUS).
Ministry reports reveal that in January-September, Poland purchased 25 thousand tons of onions in the foreign market, which is 22% less than in the same period a year earlier. In monetary terms, the value of these imports decreased less significantly, by just 13%, and amounted to 28.4 million zloty (6.75 million Euro).
The main supplier of onions to Poland in the first half of 2018 was the Netherlands. This country accounted for about 78% of all imports. Thus, in January-August, the Netherlands shipped 19.5 thousand tons of these products to the Polish market, which is 19% less than in the same period of the previous year.
The second place was for Germany, with a share of 9%. It is worth noting that this country has also reduced its presence in the Polish market. During the period at hand, Germany shipped 2.3 thousand tons of onions to Poland, which is almost half as much as in the first half of 2017.
However, at the same time, it should be noted that there was a significant increase in the supply of onions from Ukraine. In January-August 2018, Ukrainian companies sold 1 thousand tons of onions to the Polish market, whereas a year earlier in the same period, Ukraine exported only 65 tons to Polish destinations.
Industry experts are confident that in the 2018/19 season, the balance of international onion trade in Poland will change and that this country will increase its volume of purchases in the foreign market. Analysts argue that this will be due to a significant drop in the country's onion production, as according to the updated estimates from the GUS, this season, Polish growers will harvest only 575 thousand tons of onions, which is 14% less than in the previous season.
Source: east-fruit.com
