Expectations for the start of the coming onion season are high. Growers have tried to anticipate a shortage, and that indeed seems to be manifesting itself. However, an uncertain situation means that not all buyers are queuing up to buy expensive onions.
The onion harvest is expected to start around June 20 this year. This means that the harvest date is the same as that of 2018; a few are even betting that something can be cleared sooner. The winter onion sets went into the ground under good conditions and were hardly affected by winter weather. However, persistently low temperatures and drought have dampened growth in April.
More winter onion sets
The Netherlands normally has approximately 300 hectares of winter onion sets, mainly of the Troy variety. It is a niche market that is only in demand for regular second-year onion sets for a very short period of time. In view of a shortage, considerably more onions were planted in October this season. Supplier De Groot en Slot says that 70% of Troy's volume was delivered in the autumn, compared to normally 50%.
The area of second-year onion onions has been on the rise since 2013 and has grown by almost 50% since then: cultivation took off especially in 2018 (1.330 hectares of onion onions). According to insiders, it is unlikely that 2019 will show such an increase again, because after the dry summer of 2018 there was less starting material available. At the same time, less was exported, thanks to the high price level.
This also means that many of the late varieties were still available at the beginning of the year. This does make it difficult to make a good estimate. If the area eventually reaches 10.000 hectares, this means that the area has doubled in almost 20 years.
Thrips pressure
Growers in the southwest of the country have preferred onion sets more often this year, especially in view of the vagaries of the weather and thrips pressure. The latter plays a very important role, especially with seed onions in the southwest of the country. The winter sowing onions were only sown sparingly last autumn, mainly as a trial. The trade is handling this with caution. They have a reputation for being slightly lower in quality. The general picture is that the sowing variety has suffered more from the cold and dry weather, compared to the onion sets.
This year the onion onions will end up on a 'clean' market, a market that is free of seed onions. The latest games are currently looking sky-high price traded. Insiders then quote prices of up to €85 per 100 kilos for large onions from box storage. The price of onions from New Zealand is at a stable level of €100 per 100 kilos. The country exported more onions to Europe, but was unable to anticipate European demand in time in terms of acreage. The last onions are expected at the end of June, when the new Dutch harvest becomes available.
The sooner the better
Buyers are now mainly interested in the 'prime plots'. For harvest at the end of June, the winter onion sets were sold for €28 to €30 per 100 kilos. For grubbing on July 1, a price of €20 per 100 kilos is currently quoted. Harvesting earlier each day yields an additional €0,25. Buyers are more cautious for the lots that are harvested later in July. More supply is then expected, because more late varieties have been planted. Growers usually do not get further than €12 at the moment.
The currently established price level therefore does not differ much from last season, when many old seed onions were still processed. Even then, on July 1, €20 was paid spoken. If the month of May is dry and the month of June also starts without rain, this could give the market a boost.
With 4 weeks to go until harvest, it appears that the onions still have a lot of growth to do. Onion onion growers can often irrigate; This is mainly the case in West Brabant and the South Holland Islands. Although the warmer weather is also welcome. There was hardly any rain in Zeeland last weekend. The rest of May is also expected to be dry. The plots that are still in good condition may then not fare well. This makes the trade hesitant.
Gap between planting and sowing onions
Another issue is the connection between the last onion sets and the first sowing onions from the field. The initial development of this was relatively slow. If the onion sets are pulled hard, a gap can arise that will have a negative impact on trade; especially when sowing onions are going to be harvested and delivered en masse from the field.
It promises to be interesting weeks. The onion exporters are now trying to get product from other countries. Egypt, but soon also from Spain and Italy. However, this volume is too small to meet all demand. The Dutch harvest is required for this.