"Onions are not our core business, but because we export a lot of potatoes to countries that also demand onions, we decided to take this product into our assortment too, around 7 years ago. Unfortunately this season we have hardly been able to use our onion packaging line. Almost daily we're being phoned by onion growers from Belgium and Northern France, asking if we can market their products, but there is almost no demand. Normally a lot of export goes to Russia, Eastern European countries and African countries like Senegal and Ivory Coast around this time of year, but it's very calm at the moment. The prices are also very low. For packaged products the price is 17/18 cents for 50/70's."
According to the trader this is mainly due to other countries having enough production and good quality of their own. "For instance Germany, Austria and Poland. Especially the latter seems to have a huge production this year. The price level is around the same, but they have less logistic costs compared to us when they export to other Eastern European countries. Romania, for instance, is more likely to buy onions from Poland. This is 3 to 4 cents per kilo less, and that's a lot in this market." Jurgen doesn't see the market changing any time soon. "As long as there is stock in other countries, the demanding parties won't come to us."
For more information:
Jurgen Duthoo
Bart’s Potato Company bvba
Westvleterenstraat 25a
8640, Vleteren, België
Tel: +32 57 40 91 20
Fax: +32 57 40 91 21
www.lamaire.be
For more information:
Jurgen Duthoo
Bart’s Potato Company bvba
Westvleterenstraat 25a
8640, Vleteren, België
Tel: +32 57 40 91 20
Fax: +32 57 40 91 21
www.lamaire.be
