Every week it becomes a bit quieter in the onion trade and that is also noticeable now. Both supply and demand are not enough and bale prices are now even under pressure. More interesting are the prices for the new harvest, both for plant onions and for seed onions.
Every week a little less is processed and now it really concerns the very last onions from storage, let alone batches that are free. The few batches that now come out of mechanical cooling almost all have a defect and the quality is deteriorating rapidly. It is therefore difficult for sorters to determine an accurate price.
Price drops at the tail end of the storage season
While onion prices had risen again in recent weeks, they are now taking a step down. Depending on the size, quality and how onions are stored, the price varies considerably. Traders report that business has been done with growers this week for €70 to €75 per 100 kilos. Sorters report that this is also the extreme; as long as they are still interested in it. It is virtually impossible to pay more given the quality of these lots and the fact that the finer onions are no longer participating in the onion market. In addition, bale prices are under pressure.
Competition is now increasing in the onion market and imported onions from Egypt and Spain are getting ahead of Dutch onions. The Spanish onions are generally of good quality and, at €60 per 100 kilos, cost significantly less than the current Dutch onions. The calculation is then quickly made.
Bale price
De DCA quotation Bale price of Onions therefore takes a step back. There is only limited trade and, according to sorters, it is really the 'last leftovers of onions and small permanent agreements' that are still being sorted. That also makes it difficult to provide a good reflection of what exactly is happening on the market. The fine sorting is hardly performed anymore. The coarse size and supers have an average price of €92 per 100 kilos.
Planting and sowing onion fever new harvest
More fireworks can be found in the market for the new 2023 harvest. Both the farm prices of planting and seed onions have risen in recent weeks. The drought and the current warm weather are heating up the market. With later sowing and an empty market to start in, there are various ingredients to increase the farm gate price. Growers are therefore aiming high and a lot is now possible. Last week, onion sets were recorded for a price around €30, with or without participation or grown. This week there has even been trading from €35 and higher.
The farm prices for yellow seed onions are also on the move and are not lagging behind. Although the growing months of July and August have yet to come and even the bulbing process has yet to start, the field price of 2023 is already far above other years and is already at the level of the 2022 harvest. In previous weeks, prices were offered for yellow onions field from €20 or a little more, with participation.
However, growers are reluctant and are not doing much business for the new season. A lot less was contracted than was the case in other years. They aim high and that also drives up the price. Transactions have now also been made for €25 ex land with participation and even slightly higher, traders report. €30 does not seem far away in this market. It should be noted that not every sorter and trader agrees with these prices. Prices are even higher for seed onions that can be harvested early.