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Inside Onions

Turkey needs onions quickly

16 January 2019 - Anne Jan Doorn

Turkey reports on Wednesday 16 January that it will temporarily lift the import duty on onions. This is probably due to the high onion price in the country. Could the country be of interest to Dutch exporters?

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Turkey normally applies a 50% import tax on onions, but the country has now lifted this until February 2019. It could perhaps be an opportunity for Dutch exporters, especially because the onion price in the country is currently very high.

Usually not many onions go to Turkey. Exports fell from 400 tonnes in 2016 to 27,5 tonnes in 2017. This was mainly due to the introduction of the import tax. Previously, larger quantities were sometimes exported to the country.

Shortage of onions
There is a clear reason why the levy has been nullified. Local media report that there is a major shortage of onions. Consumers in the country therefore have little or no access to onions, which also means that prices are extremely high. 

William Nannes, buyer at Beemsterboer, does not expect many additional exports to the country. "But, we serve every market that is opened to us." Nannes recognizes that the onion price in the country is high and that there is currently a shortage. "At the beginning of December there was a disease in the onions and there was also a lot of snow in the country."

Onion exports to Turkey decreased sharply in 2017.

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