The onion sorting companies continued processing the old harvest for a long time last season. Switching to the new harvest mainly depended on sufficient supply. The switch is now a fact and the question arises: what will the new season bring?
In recent months, persistent drought has been the red line in stories about growth development, harvest expectations and price expectations. Roughly speaking, the dryness in the onions will result in the last 10 millimeters of coarseness being missed. The growers see the advantage in a lower yield per hectare asking price to increase, while the trade (based on the size ranges offered) sees no reason to do so from a sales perspective.
Another trend visible
The point where it is currently stuck is the high percentage of mediocrity in the new harvest. This is at odds with the trend that has emerged in recent years, which is the demand for coarse size sorting. Self-cultivating buyers of Dutch onions (on average) need large onions, because their own crops often turn out fine.
The current offering of onion sets makes it clear that the Netherlands will have a good onion harvest this season. Sorting companies are already stockpiling medium grades and that is not good for price formation. We are waiting for the opening of the Senegalese borderso that mediocrity can be eliminated. The danger of 'dumping' onions on the African market is lurking.
Quality onion sets
What is positive is the good quality of the onion sets that are currently being processed. This is inherent to the growing season so far. The hope is that the seed onions will be of comparable quality. On balance, the current Dutch onion market is in imbalance. The question is: where are the new destinations for fine onions?