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Inside Onions

How much smaller is the Polish onion crop?

8 November 2018 - Niels van der Boom

It is clear that Poland, like many other European countries, will have a smaller onion harvest this year. However, so far the figures have been lacking. The yields are not as low as we are used to in the Netherlands, but the Polish onion sector has to pull out all the stops to provide itself with sufficient product. What does the Netherlands notice about this?

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Poland's Central Statistical Office (GUS) has figures published about the provisional yield in the country. This is estimated at 575.000 tons, 14% less than last year (80.500 tons less onions). This also includes a finer sorting. The department attributes the lower yield entirely to the dry summer, because the area has actually increased slightly this year.

Price increases not over
The yield loss varies per region and ranges from a few to tens of percent. As a result, prices have risen sharply. The average consumer price is 1,33 zloty per kilo (September), which is €0,30 converted. The price of peeled onions is slightly higher at €0,36; it is the highest price level since 2004 and double what was paid in September 2017.

Recent figures from the Ministry of Agriculture (from October) show an increasing trend. At the end of October, almost €0,40 per kilo is paid in the supermarket. Compared to the Netherlands, this is a relatively low level. There, the price of 1 kilo of onions fluctuates between €1,22 and €1,25, reports say Supermarket Scanner.

14

procent

lower yield in Poland

Export at a low level
According to Eurostat, Dutch exports to Poland have fallen by 15% to 20% in recent months, compared to the same period last year. Ukraine had a good harvest this season. Exports to Poland from that country have increased by 10%, to more than 3.000 tons per month. The Netherlands and Germany are (in addition to the largest import countries) also the largest export countries. In the global export rankings, Poland is number 12; last year almost 30.000 tons were exported to the Netherlands.

It is clear to the Polish onion sector that the Netherlands, but also Germany, cannot meet their needs. This mainly causes problems after the New Year, because the domestic stock is severely thinned out. In addition to Ukraine, it is strengthening ties with exotic destinations in Asia; onions come from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. That is unique in the history of the country.

Fewer carrots
All vegetables have a lower yield this year, reports GUS. The total harvest of all vegetable varieties is estimated at 9% below 2017 levels. Onions are the hardest hit, but the yield of carrots is also 10% lower. The total harvest is estimated at 740.000 tons. Compared to 1 year earlier, the carrot price has also doubled. Higher vegetable prices mean that consumers will spend 10% more on a basket of groceries in the supermarket in September.

This article is a follow-up to: Poland lays solid ground in onion trade.

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