The onion market saw no hustle and bustle in February. "We kept busy, but that's about all there is to say. February is never the best month and this year was no exception," observes Eric Moerdijk of Monie from Nieuwdorp. "I expect that with a somewhat lower price level, we could become more competitive. Some people anticipated a repeat of last season, but in my eyes, that's not realistic. A lower price level would enable us to generate more sales."
"Meanwhile, the bag prices, especially for medium and triple sizes, are under considerable pressure. The price for large onions remains fairly stable for the time being. The question is how long European countries will still have local supplies and how the import of onions will develop. Currently, sales are mainly focused on Europe. The latest export figures showed a shipment of 18,000 tons, which is not bad at all, but given the total sorting capacity, only a third is being utilized," Eric continues.
"The sorting capacity has often been praised in the Dutch onion sector, especially in the months of October and November in recent years, there were weeks when we could use that capacity well, just not at price levels of 40 cents. Other producing countries are also making strides, and at a higher price level, you see exports decline quite quickly," Eric adds. "The quality of the onions is lower than in other years, but the worst batches with internal rot were traded before the New Year. Currently, bolting is a major issue."
The price of red onions remains at an incredibly high level. "But here too, you see resistance from customers against the high prices. This shows that the product cannot be sold at any price. If you have to buy your onions for 90 cents and the selling price is 95 cents, it's just not feasible," says Eric. Previously, the sorting and packing station in Nieuwdorp pioneered with the cultivation of white onions, which are currently in high demand in the market. "But that turned out to be neither a cultivation nor disease pressure success. And I'm glad we stopped, because with the growing seasons of the past few years, it would have only become more difficult."
For more information:
Eric Moerdijk
Monie Nieuwdorp
Hertenweg 61
4455 TK Nieuwdorp
+31 (0)113 612845
eric@monie.nl
www.monie.nl