Senegalese Minister of Industry and Trade Serigne Guèye Diop does not want to import potatoes and onions until at least 1 January 2026. Due to large potato and onion harvests, there is no need to import these products from abroad, Diop said during a meeting of the Agency for Market Regulation (ARM). The minister's decision could have far-reaching consequences for the Dutch onion sector.
The announcement was made during a meeting of the Agency for Market Regulation (ARM) and could have far-reaching consequences for, among other things, Dutch onion exports. According to official figures from the Senegalese government, 240.000 tonnes of potatoes were harvested this season. That is around 90.000 tonnes more than domestic consumption, which is estimated at 150.000 tonnes. The onion harvest even amounts to 450.000 tonnes, which is 100.000 tonnes above domestic demand.
"Senegal has never produced so many potatoes and onions," the news site quotes Senego the minister. Diop stressed that the large harvest must not be lost. To prevent this, the ministries of Industry and Trade and of Agriculture are working together to set up a chain for storage and marketing. Farmers have been called upon to sell their potatoes and onions to the government agency ARM, which can store the products safely. In doing so, the government wants to ensure that no onions have to be imported until December. Senegal has decided to stop importing potatoes and onions and to focus on processing and storage. Everything must also be done to solve the problem of rotting onions and potatoes once and for all," said Diop.
Critical comments
However, local sources question the minister's statements. Senegal has been struggling with a large trade deficit for some time and has taken several initiatives in the past to reduce it, from a new sugar factory to an import ban on second-hand textiles in favor of its own cotton industry. These attempts have so far been without great success.
The record harvest that Diop is talking about should also be taken with a grain of salt, according to some local sources. They point to the limited reliability of official statistics and doubt whether the 'record harvest' is actually as large as is claimed.
Impact on Dutch exports
For the Dutch onion sector, such statements from the Senegalese minister come as a shock. Senegal is by far the largest buyer of Dutch onions in the 2024/25 season, with sales of 180.000 tonnes. The market is also important in the longer term: over the past ten years, the average export to Senegal was more than 160.000 tonnes per year. However, it is not expected to be that bad. Previous import restrictions from Senegal often turned out to be temporary in practice or were partly circumvented. It is clear that Senegal is explicitly focusing on self-sufficiency.