The persistent cold in many growing areas of Germany has set back the vegetation of numerous crops by several weeks. This also applies to German spring onions, which is why the available quantities are currently not sufficient to cover the entire demand, neither on the German domestic market nor on the European export markets, such as in Great Britain and France. This plays into the hands of the Egyptian spring onion industry in particular.
First German goods have been available since some time in early April, but in limited quantities. "Normally, buyers immediately switch to domestic goods as soon as they hit the market. However, we continue to observe a high and stable demand for Egyptian goods," says Sarwat Radwan, managing director of AKL ExoFresh GmbH, based in Dortmund, Germany, and a specialist in Egyptian fruit imports.
He also points out the significant price difference between domestic and Egyptian bunch onions. "Domestic open-field goods were traded a few days ago by up to 2 €/box more expensive than the imported goods from Egypt flown in. However, the quality and calibration of the goods also plays a significant role. The longer bunched onions from domestic cultivation, which are preferred by the trade, are only increasingly hitting the market from this week onwards," describes Radwan.
Sarwat Radwan (here at Fruit Logistica 2023) is dedicated to the import and distribution of Egyptian spring onions.
The Egypt specialist does not rule out the possibility that there will be more Egyptian produce in the coming weeks. Says Radwan, "As long as the weather situation, and thus the availability of domestic produce, does not improve and Egyptians continuously export high-quality spring onions, I assume that many buyers will continue to rely on imported produce."
More information:
Sarwat Radwan
AKL ExoFresh GmbH
Mallinckrodt Str. 320
44147 Dortmund
Telefon: +49 (0) 231 / 993 670 74
Telefax: +49 (0) 231 / 225 228 76
Mobil +49 (0) 173 / 565 123 7
E-Mail: info@aklexofresh.de
www.aklexofresh.de