The onion export to Great Britain is in a final sprint now that the end of the season is approaching. Great Britain has been by far the most important export destination for Dutch onions for several weeks in a row. Why are onions so popular on the other side of the North Sea?
Onions are running out in Great Britain, various sources report. A gap between the old and new harvest occurs almost every year in Great Britain. This year the old harvest will run out earlier than in recent years. As a result, there is now a good demand for Dutch onions.
The Netherlands fills the gap
Dutch exporters know how to respond to this and have been shipping large quantities to Great Britain in recent weeks. The weekly export figures are around or well above 3.000 tons. A total of 18 tons have already been exported to Great Britain this season up to and including week 90.590. This means that exports are almost 14% ahead compared to last year.
As in previous years, Great Britain is an important destination for Dutch onions. Brexit has not changed this. Several exporters indicate that the current customs (transitional) rules pose few problems. Most exporters are used to doing business with countries outside the EU, which is a big advantage in the new situation around Great Britain.