Argentina exported 40% less in onions

Certification of origin program for onions, executed by FunBaPa reported that this season's onion exports from the Protected Patagonian region, until April 15th, certified 43,428 tons, 40% less than what was exported for the same period last year.

Although during the first two months of this year there had been the best start ups of the last six periods, with 4,624 tons destined for export, in March the rate was significantly lower than expected. During that month 20,284 tons were exported, when usually the volume destined for foreign markets exceeds 40,000 tons.

Ursula Garcia Lorenzana, Program Coordinator, added that in the first weeks of April, "a greater demand for onions was shown, but at levels well below those of last season." At the same time, she explained that "92% of the what was exported went to Brazil, as there is very little interest from European buyers for our onion. To follow with this trend, it is not unreasonable to assume that this campaign recorded the lowest export volume to Europe since 1999, when the certification of origin started."

Moreover, the domestic market deserves special mention because the volume traded in the first three months this year, in return for export rates, exceeded widely the value recorded in the last 3 campaigns for the same date, reaching 77,496 tons.

Source: ADN