We have probably put the lean weeks in onion exports behind us this week. However, it will take some time before we see this reflected in the export figures. In any case, the latest known figures for week 43 confirm the moderate mood at the end of October.
In week 43, 22.282 tons of onions crossed the border, according to figures from KCB/GroentenFruit Huis. That is more than 2.000 tons less than in week 42 and meager for this time of year. For comparison: last season, 43 tons were shipped in week 40.533 and the five-year average is 35.210 tons. The total so far this season is 397.638 tons.
There are some notable shifts in the list of largest customers. Numbers one and two are the same as last week, with Ivory Coast accounting for 4.077 tons and Great Britain for 2.828 tons. Guinea is in third place, which purchased 1.655 tons of onions. Senegal, which is usually also a major buyer these days, only comes in seventh place with an import of 1.015 tons. Brazil, where there was a lot of buzz a few weeks ago, is just above Senegal with 1.064 tons.