After Dutch onions, Indonesia will also start importing onions from New Zealand again. That is good news for the onion exporters in the country, for whom Indonesia is an important sales market.
Negotiations over New Zealand exports to Indonesia took place for months, Rural News reports. Trade association Onions NZ played an important role in the negotiations with Indonesian government officials. The new import rules are now clear and onion exports have resumed.
At the beginning of March the news came out that Indonesia was back import permits will grant to Dutch onion exporters. The export of Dutch onions to Indonesia shrank by more than 2019% in 65 as a result of sanctions imposed by the government due to a European decision on palm oil.
More than 15 million euros
Onion exports from New Zealand to Indonesia amounted to 2019 million New Zealand dollars in 28. That is more than €15 million and is comparable to the Dutch onion export to Indonesia in 2018. The total onion export from New Zealand had a value of more than €95 million last year, which was almost double compared to 2018.
The onion area in New Zealand is just over 5.000 hectares. About 200.000 tons of onions are produced annually, 85% of which have an export destination. The onions are exported to 45 destinations worldwide, of which Indonesia is an important sales market. The European Union is the largest buyer of onions grown in New Zealand.
Good prospects
Onion growers and traders in New Zealand are happy with the negotiation result. They expect the Indonesian market for their products to grow. Just like other markets around the world. According to them, the prospects are good, despite the outbreak of the coronavirus. The demand for onions is high worldwide and export markets secure long-term supplies.