This past season, for the third time in a row, Dutch onion exports reached record highs. The counter eventually ticked past 1.3 million tons, the Holland Onion Association reports. That won't be easy to match this season. In fact, the onion cultivation boom that began at the turn of the century in the Netherlands has actually dipped slightly this season. Dutch farmers' cropping plans have shifted somewhat to potatoes or grains, and the dry spring and even drier summer further diminished yield figures per onion plot.
Epic record for 2021-2022
Last season's export figures eventually reached an impressive 1,318 million - 850 000kg more than the previous season. The epic limit of 1.3 million kilo limit was thus easily passed. That represents a seven percent absolute export growth.
Although growers sowed nine percent fewer onions than the previous season, the season got off to a cracking start in week 27. There was an astonishing 23% growth in exports during those first weeks. That has since normalized to about three percent. There should be between one and 1,05 million tons available for weekly exports. By week 45, about half of that had already gone, leaving about 14,000 tons per week for the rest of the season.
Latest European online facts, figures
For the past decade, Dutch onions' yields per hectare have averaged 57 tons. But, it seems, at 44.2 tons/ha, 2022's yields will be significantly lower, even compared to last year when an average of 49 tons were harvested per hectare. That downward yield trend is countrywide and is largely due to climate change's many effects.
The Netherlands' neighboring countries are following the same trend. European onion field sizes have shrunk again—this time by nine percent to just under 105,000 ha. Europe and the United Kingdom's total onion yields will likely be around 6.3 million tons. That is the lowest yield in the last four years, according to AMI's latest harvest estimates and other figures.
You can download the complete report of the latest European facts and figures here.
Pricey onions
Dutch onion growers are demanding high prices too. That sometimes makes it hard for Dutch onions to compete in the world and local markets.
Kick start
Total onions exports from the Netherlands had already soared to nearly 118,500 tons in the first five weeks of this 2022/2023 season. Last year, 'only' 96,000 tons left the country in those same weeks. For the first time, Ivory Coast led the importing countries' pack, initially racing ahead of Senegal with a cumulative 30,000 tons. However, Senegal then announced that it would issue import quotas for as much as 200,000 tons of onions.
The previous season, that was 'merely' 170,000 tons. Soon after, Senegal took the lead, and Ivory Coast is now slightly behind compared to the same period last year. However, vast quantities of Dutch onions were shipped to Senegal over a short time. That market may, thus, put the brakes on for a while, and Ivory Coast could again take the lead. Great Britain holds firm at third position and is again stable and steadily ahead of last season regarding imported volume.
Wide spread
There is a wide spread of export countries. Early in the season, Dutch onions had already arrived in 116 countries. Even countries that were not or hardly on the market at that time last season or the season before. Countries like Israel, Cameroon, Japan and Australia, Jordan, the Bahamas, Switzerland, and Niger came knocking early (again). Brazil returned to the scene this season, getting its weekly share from week 34.
Exports to Malaysia also increased enormously to almost 17,500 tons, placing this country in seventh position. The same goes for the Netherlands' southern neighbor, Belgium, which has taken more than 16,000 tons, a quantity already set to double that of last season.
Dutch onions are, therefore, very popular, resulting in good grower and trader prices. Some farmers are even so optimistic about even better times ahead that they have not yet sold a single kilo in this profitable market.
Source: Holland Onion Association