Polish onion growers have brought in the largest harvest in thirteen years last season. However, that does not immediately put the market in a depressed mood. The peak of recent years is not being reached either. In Poland, onion companies are mainly concerned about the pressure that Dutch onions are exerting on their market.
According to the latest estimate by the Polish statistical office GUS, a total of 675.400 tonnes of onions were harvested last year. That is 6,6% more than in 2023. Good for almost 42.000 tonnes. This makes it the best harvest since 2009, when more than 700.000 tonnes were harvested.
More tons due to larger area
Earlier, the Poole Statistics Service announced the area, which has increased considerably by 17% to 25.100 hectares. This considerable increase was initially sceptical among insiders, but given the increased volume, it is correct. An average hectare yield of 27 tonnes per hectare shows that things were not going well everywhere.
The 2024 growing season was erratic in Poland. In contrast to Western European countries, spring was early to normal in terms of timing. Wet and dry periods alternated, which caused quality issues here and there. The onions were hardly affected by the heavy rainfall in the south of Poland. They were all dry behind the shelves at the end of September.
Prices below average
Since mid-November, the market prices for Polish onions have been quite stable. They are on average €27 per 100 kilos. Note that these are sorted and bagged onions. Growers and sellers are not very satisfied with this price. They have had two seasons with particularly high prices. A year ago, the level was €38 and in 2023 even around €50. The five-year average for early January is €33 per 100 kilos.
In Poland too, there is no real winter weather yet, with rain or winter precipitation during the day and temperatures above zero. At night, the mercury drops to a few degrees below zero. Growers still have enough onions that they have to find a place for and that is felt on the market, which normally starts to rise cautiously from January.
Pressure from Dutch onions
Another handicap for the Polish market is the supply of Dutch onions. The Poles also know that the Netherlands is highly dependent on African exports. If that slows down, Eastern Europe will have to take on part of the volume. This can cause (price) pressure on the local market. If winter weather stays away, transport can take place without any problems. In addition, Dutch onions are relatively cheap to obtain in Poland. Insiders therefore assume that it may be spring before the market can look up again.