Onion prices in Ukraine are almost three times higher than last year and a third higher than in 2029. This gives the local growers optimism, but there are more privateers on the coast.
Professional onion growers with good storage facilities in Ukraine have confidence in the onion market and are waiting for prices to rise a little further in the second half of the season. Supply, insofar as onions are offered, therefore mainly comes from smaller growers. As a result, the top end of the onion price in Ukraine amounts to approximately €33 per 100 kilos.
Smaller area and mediocre quality
A shrinkage in the acreage and quality problems in the onions, mainly due to poor weather conditions during the growing season, creates a positive mood among farmers with good onions in the shed. They hope that onion prices in Ukraine will rise significantly towards spring, as happened in the 2018/2019 season. However, experts of the local market doubt a repeat of that scenario. Although the Ukrainian onion harvest is disappointing, it is still above that of 2018 and if local growers manage to keep the onions in good condition, they will continue to hit the market. In addition, Europe has a very good harvest.
“The season started with the highest prices in five years,” says Ievgen Kuzin, head of international projects at Fruit-Inform at Eastfruit. "Prices have only risen very slowly since the start and are now at a level for which Kazakhstan, for example, can export well." And not only the republics in central Asia are preying on the Ukrainian market. There is a wide supply of onions in the EU, resulting in relatively low prices and exporters are looking for destinations. According to Kuzin, Ukraine is an attractive destination. "The price of sorted yellow onions in the Netherlands is comparable to the grower's price in Kazakhstan and approximately 45% below the price in Ukraine. In addition, transport to Ukraine is relatively favorable, because it does not have to go via relatively expensive sea freight."