In recent weeks it has mainly been stealing between showers when it comes to the onion harvest. This week is different, thanks to the dry days. The supply is starting to increase and that also affects the market. There was and is no shortage of interest, graders indicate, but there is also quite a bit of weight to be lost this season. At least that is the expectation.
The onion harvest has not been easy in recent weeks. Precipitation, precipitation and more precipitation meant that little progress could be made with the harvest. As a result, stocks at sorters remained very limited. Some sorters could even have done a little more if they had had sufficient stock. This week, and actually only in the last two days, that has been different. Harvesting can take place in more and more places. What actually had to be cleared in the past two weeks will become available in the near future. Provided it stays dry, of course.
Changing market
As a rule, the early planting onions are usually the most expensive and that was again the case this year. In recent weeks, the bale price, and therefore also the grower price, remained stable due to the limited supply. Those who were able to supply onion sets benefited from this 'weather market', as you might call it. Now that the supply is increasing, sorters see that the market is changing. There is currently no real demand or supply market, but the onion onion market is establishing itself and is entering the next phase. There is a 'but' behind it. It must remain dry enough to be able to harvest. With the changeable weather that is forecast, this is not a certainty.
Grower award
The prices paid to the grower this week were around €22 to €23 for direct delivery or on agreements made earlier. Occasionally a little more was paid for a very good block. Grower prices have come under some pressure in recent days. Sorters are not sure what the sales market will look like next week. With more supply, they cannot afford to replenish stocks at too high prices. That's why they are careful. Growers charge €20 for fully grown onion sets to be harvested in early August. Trading is done for about €18 to €20; delivery first week of August.
The onion onion market will settle down in the coming weeks with more supply - and that seems to be the case now. Sorters and packers are generally quite positive and indicate that demand is relatively good for the time of year. In addition, they indicate that the quality of the onion sets has been good so far. Although the question is how it will work for longer distances and in bulk. Bale prices are under some pressure at the moment, although the price level does not have to drop much to keep up now. That is also usual for this time of year. There will be more price differentiation between the size ranges. Supers, which are few these days, remain the same. The smaller size ranges decrease slightly. The range in the DCA quotation Bale price of Onions drops slightly from €38 to €45.