The area of seed onions in the Netherlands has increased further this year, which means that a record area of seed onions will be grown again in 2025. The area of red onions has exploded compared to last year, while yellow onions are decreasing slightly in size.
This is evident from the results of the preliminary agricultural census of Statistics Netherlands (CBS) that was announced this Monday morning. The total area according to this inventory is 33.200 hectares, 3,6% higher than the 2024 harvest.
The new record area for onions is entirely due to red onions. The area of red onions, which has only been included separately in the Agricultural Census since 2022, has increased by no less than 35,6% to almost 6.300 hectares. Net, that is around 1.650 hectares more than last year. This means that the growing popularity of the red onion segment is shifting into a higher gear.
Red onions larger than plant onions
The area of yellow onions, still by far the largest onion variety at 81,1% of the area, is literally losing ground. The area of yellow onions is shrinking by 1.8% to around 26.900 hectares. Although this is lower than last year, it is still higher than in previous years. The area of second-year seed and plant onions has also decreased: by 2,5% to 6.000 hectares. According to this Agricultural Census, this means that the area of red onions is now larger than the area of plant onions.
The results of the Agricultural Census may come as a bit of a surprise to many onion sector specialists. A survey among insiders held at the beginning of June expected a much sharper decline in the area of yellow onions and a moderate growth in the area of red onions. In the past, the results of the Agricultural Census, especially in a crop with a large free market like onions, have often been the subject of debate between the parties in the onion chain.