The onion market at a glance

What makes the onion growing season so special this year, or is it a 13 in a dozen season? Now that the growing season is over and most onions have been harvested, it is time to look in the mirror. Everyone has been able to follow how the growth has progressed with the Crop Tour, but the market received less attention.

The transition from the old to the new season felt like a very tough one. That was not so much due to the market in terms of supply and demand, but more to the mood among traders. The origins lay in an area growth of onions in combination with an expectation of a 'high' yield per hectare.

Many onions were already fixed in the onion sets in advance in the form of all kinds of cultivation contracts. That meant stock in the books of the sorting companies, which pushed the need to buy onions further into the background. The availability of seed onions further reduced the interest in onion sets. Growers with onion sets now know all about this and often had to settle for Poland as virtually the only outlet.

Season is in full swing
The season is now in full swing. Although Senegal opened its borders later than has been customary in recent years, that blockade has also been lifted. There has been a lot of trade in recent weeks, especially from companies that had too little position in the books for their own taste. The regional quotations are gradually switching to recording dry from the barn.

Two things were striking during the harvest period:

1. The lack of supply pressure
2. Rising prices

Because growers became more determined, growers with insufficient storage have chosen to temporarily use the potato storage. This creates a big stick behind the door, as a result of which extra supply is expected around mid-October. Due to the absence of an 'onion sunami' in the off-land period, the trade had to pay more to get onions. The question of how far the onions can rise in price will have everything to do with the supply of onions and the confidence that growers have in the market. Bearing in mind that the yield of BV Nederland could exceed last year's level, it is important to forge the iron while it is hot.

More information
Would you like to know more about the onion market? Then call one of our buyers.

• Machiel Boons 06-82120153 (region above the major rivers)
• Sander Steins 06-34509669 (region under the great rivers)

You can also sign up for the Uienhandel.com Whatsapp service. You will then receive regular messages about the market with offers or specific questions. Every 50th applicant now receives a free Uienhandel.com onion buddy!