There is nothing to be made from small onions at the moment. It is the large onions that are still bringing in some money, but that is insufficient to keep sales attractive. Every order is being fought over. Exporters and sorters are saying more often than ever this season: 'We begrudge each other the loss'.
Sorters and exporters are generally unhappy with onion sales. Processing lines are running at a low level because there is a lack of demand to operate at full capacity. Only a few note that there is decent work. On average, according to companies, it is mostly a matter of muddling through.
However, this is not immediately apparent from the export figures. Exports may be somewhat on the tight side to quickly clear the large stocks, but the volume is certainly not bad. In recent weeks, companies have been exporting approximately 20.000 tonnes. That is good compared to previous years. It is exceptional for exports to exceed 20.000 tonnes during this period.
Every year, it is a sobering realization when Senegal leaves the market. As soon as this West African country closes its borders to imported onions in January, sorting activities in the Netherlands are halved. The volume then drops from approximately 40.000 tonnes to 20.000 tonnes per week. That remains something that sorters and exporters have to get used to.
It is difficult to sell large quantities of onions, particularly in February and part of March. This is especially the case in years with a large European harvest. The transition from Africa to Europe always takes time. This year, that process seems to be taking longer than usual.
Exports are not disappointing
Taking that into account, exports are not disappointing at the moment. Since mid-January, exports have averaged 20.000 tonnes per week, according to preliminary figures from KCB and GroentenFruit Huis. That is slightly less than in 2022 and 2025, but clearly more than in 2023 and 2024. Exports are therefore holding up reasonably well.
What is disappointing, however, are the margins. This applies to sorters and exporters, but also to growers. At 10 to 14 cents per kilo from storage in March, it is meager for producers. Especially since transactions were also made at the end of last year around 20 cents per kilo for delivery this spring.
Those purchase prices cannot be passed on to sales. Certainly not now that fuel has become more expensive. Small onions fetch 15 to 16 cents in the bale. Size 50-70 millimeters, at 17 to 19 cents, is also not profitable. The revenue must come from large onions and supermarkets. However, the volumes and margins from these are insufficient to make the entire package profitable.
Red onions
Some sorters and exporters therefore focus more on red onions. There is a small base of regular customers for these. Large red onions fetch 24 to 26 cents per bale, and supermarkets more than 40 cents per kilo. Finer sizes are harder to sell here as well, but the overall picture is more favorable than with yellow.
That benefit does not apply directly to growers. Prices for red onions have fallen sharply because sales are insufficient to clear the large stocks. There is a surplus, partly due to the expansion of the cultivated area.
Attempts are being made to extend the red onion season. However, with Egyptian onions on the way, time is limited. Working to their advantage is the fact that Dutch red onions are cheaper than Egyptian ones. Nevertheless, it is widely expected that many red onions will remain unsold this year. In addition to free-market potatoes, an alternative use must also be found for these onions.
Read here the explanation from DCA Market Intelligence on the new quotations.