CBS: more onions than previously indicated

Statistics Netherlands announces the final harvest estimate for arable crops every year at the end of January. The figures replace the provisional estimate, which was published in October 2018. That provisional estimate is every year feed for discussion, even in the House of Representatives. This is because there is a feeling that the publication of the figures has a disruptive effect on the market.

Based on May count the area for seed onions was estimated at 2018 hectares in June 25.650. This is a reduction of 2017 hectares (-1.040%) compared to 3,9. The cultivated area was adjusted to 2018 hectares in October 25.376, good for a gross yield of 811.000 tons.

Halving the yield
The above figures show that the onion yield has almost halved compared to last season (-702.000 tons or -46,4%). It is striking that the figures caused less controversy this season and, for many, even too much rosy picture gave.

The final harvest estimate for the 2018 harvest is set by Statistics Netherlands at 887.648 gross tons, based on 35,5 tons per hectare. That was 1.453.789 tons and 55,7 tons respectively last season. This further underlines the special character of this season. The deviation compared to the provisional harvest estimate is special. This is because it has been adjusted upwards by 75.256 tons (+9,4%).

Still enough onions to export
There is now 586.350 tons of onions exported (up to and including week 2). These figures also include some onion sets. If we filter these out of the export figures, approximately 42% of the seed onions would have been exported. The positive adjustment will surprise many people and allow the calm mode on the onion market to continue.