In mid-March there was a considerable recovery in bale prices. This increase was prompted by a huge increase in demand for Dutch onions in the first weeks of the corona crisis. Now that this question has been missing for several weeks, bale prices are falling.
Once again it was a quiet week in the onion sector. The overseas demand for onions in particular is currently at a low level. There is somewhat more demand in Europe, but this is not enough to provide Dutch packers with plenty of work. A destination with significant demand must be added to maintain export figures. Brazil can be such a destination. Rumor went around this week that Brazil went shopping for onions in the Netherlands, but this was limited to requesting information from Dutch exporters. No orders have been placed to date.
A quiet market usually results in bale prices dropping. After a significant recovery last month, bale prices have taken a step back every week since. As a result, bale prices are back at a comparable level to before the upturn a month ago. An overview of the bale prices can be found in the DCA listing Bale price Onions.
Prepare to make an offer
Few lots are currently being purchased on the farm. Processors still have obligations that need to be collected and still have sufficient stock (for the time being). It is therefore not surprising that the stock exchange committees in Middenmeer and Emmeloord show a weak mood on the onion market. Many farmers think that things have been quiet for too long now. When the urge to buy picks up again, many farmers will probably be willing to make offers.
Stock market prices also took a step back this week. When all quotations are compared, €30 to €60 is paid for the 13-15% coarse sorting and €60 to €14 for the 16% upward sorting.