It is often a matter of running or standing still in onions. We have had the sprint, it seems, and now it is almost a matter of leisurely completing the last weeks of the year. That is quite a change in thinking after turbulent weeks.
Africa is and remains the most important sales market for Dutch sorters and exporters. But the end of the Africa season is in sight. Sorters have already completed the inventory of work they expect to need until mid-January. The need to purchase additional items for immediate delivery is therefore limited. This is noticeable in the trade. It is a bit quiet on the farm and in sales we have to work with different sorters to get the orders. That is a break from the trend in recent weeks.
Indonesia
Uncertainty has arisen about the export of onions to Indonesia. There was a special arrangement with Indonesia for the export of onions without having to be fumigated. This arrangement has reportedly been changed unilaterally, meaning that Dutch exporters would now have to use gas. This effectively means an end to exports, because the resources that have to be used for this (such as methyl bromide) are in the EU banned. How and what is not yet clear at the time of writing. Indonesia's timing is unfortunate. At the end of last week it was announced that India is completely restricting the export of onions. The onion harvest is disappointing in both India and Pakistan. As a result, there may still be opportunities for exports to Indonesia, provided the border remains open of course.
De DCA quotation Bale price of Onions remains largely stable this week. With the triplets and mediums it is the bottom that is under pressure, while with coarse and supers it is the top that loses some.