On 1 October, the onion stock in Germany was surveyed. The outcome may be surprising. In which state are the onions located, and what is the total stock?
The stock figures for onions this year amount to 227.404 tons of onions. This is a percentage increase of 4,1% compared to last year. Only in 2014 was there a larger stock in Germany, with 247.409 tons of onions.
The important growing areas
There are a number of important growing areas in Germany. One of these is Lower Saxony, including a number of surrounding states. A percentage decrease of 15% can be seen in this growing area. Stocks are increasing in the other 'important growing areas'. The stock figures show that new cultivation areas are emerging in Germany. This shows an increase of 30%.
It is striking that there has been a large increase in the stock of red onions this season. The stock figures show that there are 13.046 tons of red onions in Germany. This is an increase of 38% compared to last year.
Text continues below the table.
| Onion stock Germany | 2017 | 2016 | Percentage |
| Total | 227.404 | 218.581 | + 4,1 % |
| Lower Saxony | 69.050 | 81.200 | -15% |
| North Rhine-Westphalia | 19.550 | 18.630 | + 5 % |
| Hesse/Rheinland - Palatinate/Baden-Württemberg | 56.644 | 48.099 | + 18 % |
| Bavaria | 32.960 | 32.740 | + 1 % |
| Other growing areas | 49.200 | 37.800 | + 30 % |
Few coarse onions
There are few large onions in Germany. It is estimated that 80% of onions are in the size range 40 to 70 millimeters. The onions that are larger are just above 70 millimeters. The number of onions that have been treated with MH and can be stored for a long time is approximately one third of the total stock.
All major growing areas in Germany have faced some major challenges. In the western and southwestern growing areas, early summer heat and drought have hampered onion development. This resulted in low yields and slowdown in growth.
In Lower Saxony and the surrounding states in northeastern Germany, difficult harvest conditions (due to heavy rain) played a role. Conditions were relatively good in the south and southeast. In Bavaria the onions are on average coarser than in the rest of the country.