Onion exports take a big step back around this time of year. It is not unusual for exports to decline at the end of the season, but it is one of the few times this season that exports have fallen below 10.000 tonnes.
The export volume in week 22 takes a considerable step back compared to the previous week. 7.755 tons of onions were exported in week 22, 3.471 tons less than the previous week, according to figures from KCB/GroentenFruit Huis. Together with weeks 27 and 28 of 2024, this is the third time that the export volume has fallen below 10.000 tons this season.
In total, 1.176.650 tonnes of onions crossed the Dutch borders this season. 2024 is currently still behind record export year 2021, in second place (with more than 65.000 tonnes less than 2021). The lead over 2020 is currently around 18.000 tonnes. In the last weeks of the season, export volumes in both 2020 and 2021 were considerably higher than what 2024 is now showing. If this trend continues, it is quite possible that 2020 will surpass the current export year.
Top three export destinations unchanged
In week 22, Ivory Coast was still the country to which most Dutch onions went. In total, this country imported 1.591 tonnes of onions, leaving Great Britain behind for the third week in a row. Great Britain had to make do in second place with 1.132 tonnes of Dutch onions. With Germany in third place, with 646 tonnes, this is the same order as a week ago.