Search for coarse onions in Europe

In the United Kingdom (UK), the British Onion Producers Association (BOPA) is talking about a nightmare. A bad spring, followed by high temperatures and drought, decimate the onion harvest. The onion even ranks 1 in the top 5 most affected vegetables; carrots are in 3rd place and potatoes in 4.

Nice onions on the shelf
Tim Elcombe, President of the BOPA, says in an interview with newspaper The Times that the organization expects 25% fewer onions this year. In addition to the substantial reduction, the sorting is also a problem. British supermarkets demand large onions and there are almost none. The organization says that consumers will experience the consequences of this in the store. He does not dare to say to what extent the prices will rise. "It is a fact that they have to go up." However, British growers often sort and pack themselves, based on contracts with supermarkets.

The onion growers on the British Isle had to deal with a snow storm early in the spring, which meant that second-year onion sets could not be planted even on the sandy soil. The seed onions were also sown later than normal. A warm month of May partly compensated for this, but the drought in June and July hit the crop again.

To keep alive
A large part of the onions can be irrigated, but the availability of water is becoming an issue. There are also restrictions on the abstraction of water and the hours in which irrigation is allowed. "The crops are normally irrigated at this time to produce kilos," says Elcombe. "Farmers now irrigate to keep the crop alive. Where that doesn't work, the onions die faster." 

An onion shortage in the UK is beneficial for Dutch onion exports. Since 2011, the country has been a major buyer of onions. Exports increased by 179.000 tons to peak year 2015. When almost 500.000 tons of onions were shipped to the country.

(Text continues below the chart)Between 2011 and 2015, onion exports to the UK peaked sharply.

Adjust sizing
The situation with our eastern neighbors is similar. Producers association Deutsche Speisezwiebel therefore cites a 40% reduction in yield, which it also expects for the Netherlands. It asks customers to adjust the requirements and to correct the grading from 40 to 60 millimeters to 35 to 50 millimeters.

Drought damage varies by area, but in most cases is serious. Recent rainfall has not changed this. Due to the drought, the onions ripen about 2 weeks earlier. The harvest is hindered by the drought, which means that harvesting is not possible everywhere.

Export market is picking up
In Austria, the winter onion sets have now been removed and the new harvest is being used. The market is at a stable level and demand is calm. There is more interest in Austrian onions on the export market. The large sizes are especially popular. For sorted product, between €28 and €32 per 100 kilos is paid in crates.

It is also expected that large onions (60 millimeters upwards) will become scarce in Poland. After a long period of drought and extremely high temperatures, significant rain finally fell in the first half of July (between 20 and 60 millimeters depending on the region). The harvest of onion sets was delayed as a result, but is now in full swing. In the supermarkets you will find Dutch onions due to a lack of local harvest. However, insiders expect the rain to have come too late.

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Fewer Spanish onions
Spain seems to be the only European country that does not lack large onions. The jet stream that brings us heat and drought, ensures a moderate weather type. According to insiders, there is a noticeable difference with the onions. More precipitation has fallen from the south of France and the crops are in better shape.

In the south of Spain, the harvest of early onions has now been completed; which started the third week of May. According to processors, more than 3.000 tons have been harvested in the Antequera region, above Málaga (compared to 4.000 tons last year). The onions are harvested by hand and are very delicate without a firm skin. That makes them less suitable for export.

The region has a second crop. The total harvest this year is estimated at 11.000 tons. These late onions are suitable for storage (up to 4 months) and therefore also for export. The Spaniards are a competitor of the Netherlands, especially on the Brazilian market. They may have an edge this year. The season has also been cooler and wetter in Italy. As a result, the onion harvest is estimated to be 30% smaller.