Inside: Onion Market
Listing of red seed onions on the rise: is there more in the offing?
Everyone in the sector notices that the market for yellow seed onions is in calm waters. Beurs Emmeloord, however, recorded a plus this week for both fine and coarse red seed onions. What are the expectations for the red seed onions?
Would you like to continue reading this article?
Become a subscriber and get instant access
Choose the subscription that suits youThere is currently little going on on the onion market for yellow seed onions. Because the export is for the medium sorting starts to fall silent, the trade is not eagerly looking for new parties. As a result, the trade takes a cautious position and/or tries to trade at a lower price level.
The trade is still looking for very large consignments. This concerns batches around 70% coarse or more. There are export destinations for large onions. Great Britain, Spain and Italy are examples of this. These prices are also under some pressure, because the non-large onions (in such lots) bring the price down.
Common for the period
All in all, the pace in the onion market has slowed considerably. However, this is common during this period of the season. After demand from Africa disappears, the market needs time to choose a new direction. Especially with Carnival and the Fruit Logistica in Berlin (where many exporters go), it is common for the trade to take a step back.
Just like last week, the regional fairs are taking a step back. The 3 regional stock exchanges quote €9 as the maximum price for large onions. For fine onions, the regional exchanges quote €6,5 as the maximum price. When all 3 regional quotations are compared, the fine onions are quoted from €5 to €6,5 and the coarse onions are €5,5 to €9.
(Text continues below the table)
| Rating for seed onions 60% coarse (average) | |||
| Week | Goes 60% coarse | Middenmeer 60% coarse | Emmeloord 60% coarse |
| 2018 - 05 | €7,75 | €7,25 | €7,50 |
| 2018 - 04 | €8,50 | €7,75 | €7,75 |
| 2018 - 03 | €8,50 | €8 | €8 |
| 2018 - 02 | €8 | €7,25 | €8 |
| 2018 - 01 | €8 | €7,25 | €7,25 |
| 2017 - 52 | €7 | €7 | |
Red onions
The red onion market has been stable for some time. The regional fair in Emmeloord is trading this week at €12 to €16 for 60% coarse onions, a plus of €0,25. The expectation is that the red onion market will continue to perform similarly in the coming weeks.
Most red onions are sold in Europe. India had a shortage for a while, which created opportunities for Dutch red onions in Asia. India now has plenty of red onions again and is offering them competitively on the world market. As a result, the Netherlands is mainly confined to the European market.
There is some demand for medium sorting from Germany, but in countries such as Spain and Italy, things are not really being taken forward yet. The mood is calm at the moment. The bale price for large onions is currently around €25 for grades 60 to 80.
The quotation of red onions is 60% coarse in Emmeloord.