Many Dutch onions cross the borders. The latest figure (week 42) is 37.877 tons. This is a figure that the Dutch onion export could only dream of a decade ago. In 2021, these figures will no longer be surprised. However, most processors are not bothered by peak crowds.
Total exports are still ahead of the record 2020 season. With a percentage of 58%, most Dutch onions are currently going to Africa. Also the exports to Africa are ahead on last year's figures. Poland is also doing well on the market at the moment. The Poles pay good prices compared to current prices for onions with a quality problem. Many of these exports do not end up in the export figures.
Despite the good exports, the onion market is not doing well. All stock exchanges have lowered the price of yellow onions slightly. These quotes are based on few transactions, as there has been little trading in the past week. Processors are in a situation where they sit back and see if the offer presents itself. An important cause of this situation is the reporting about the large supply. In addition, despite the good export figures, there is no peak demand. An export week of 38.000 tons is of course good, but with an export capacity estimated at more than 45.000 tons, this means that processors are operating at 85% of their capacity on average.
When all quotations are compared, €10 to €12 is paid for Dutch onions. There are few transactions in red. For example, the stock exchange listing in Emmeloord has not been able to list for two weeks in a row due to a lack of transactions.
Not only farm prices, but also bale prices are under pressure. There is a lot of pressure among exporters, especially in African destinations. This competition ensures that the onions are offered at competitive bale prices. €15 to €16 is charged for the common sizes. An overview of the bale prices can be found in the DCA listing Bale price Onions.