For a long time, European buyers dominated the export of Dutch onions. In week 16, however, the European destinations are not at the top of the export lists. Is there a change?
The export figures for week 16 remain at a paltry 11.109 tons of onions. This figure is well below the average seasonal volume of 24.640 tons per week. It is still possible that the export figure will be adjusted due to subsequent items. This week, for example, the export figure for week 15 has been corrected upwards by 892 tonnes.
The 2019 growing season is still on track to achieve an export record. In the previous record year 2017, the limit of 1.000.000 tons of onions was reached in week 15. This season, this magical limit was already crossed 3 weeks ago. A total of 1.034.877 tons of onions have been exported so far this season.
Europe is slowing down a notch
The largest buyers in week 16 come from Africa. In the weeks before, European destinations dominated demand on the Dutch onion market. But because these European destinations hoarded a lot of onions in those weeks, the intermediate stocks are well filled. As a result, many buyers ordered fewer onions in week 16.
Guinea purchased the most Dutch onions in week 16 with 1.721 tons. Mauritania follows in second place with 1.046 tons of onions and Sierra Leone completes the top 3 with 812 tons.