The price of Dutch onion sets is currently at a level between 19 and 21 cents. "There's nothing wrong with the price," notes Gerard Hoekman of Mulder Onions from Kerkrade. "We are in the transition from the planting onions - which are running out - to the first seed onions. What is available in planting onions is mainly coarse, so I expect that the middle sorting will certainly maintain its price level. The first seed onions are still small, so that also offers room for good sales of the coarse planting onions."
"In terms of exports, it is still quiet. Africa has already started to import. It is a pity that the Far East is not yet demanding volumes. They have cheap Chinese onions and there is also a lot of pressure on that market from New Zealand, which has larger stocks than in previous years and therefore continues to push hard," notes exporter Gerard Hoekman of Mulder Onions. "Furthermore, exports to the United Kingdom are slowing down at the moment, because more English product is entering the market. The rest of Europe is also self-sufficient at the moment."
In terms of quality, the harvest looks good, he says. "The heat of the last few weeks has caused sunburn damage. We can see that clearly from the batches of planting onions that have been arriving in recent days. We will also have to wait and see what the effects of the warm summer weather will have on the yields of the seed onions. We expect lower yields than last year, but the demand in the various markets will be more decisive for sales. We have to rely on export anyway. The more problems elsewhere, the more favourable that is for the Dutch onion sales. "
For more information:
Gerard Hoekman
Mulder Onions BV 
Hagenroderstraat 32
6464 CP Kerkrade
0031 (0) 45-5678700
gerard@mulder-onions.com
www.mulder-onions.com