Prices for red and yellow onions are currently comparable, but the market sentiment is completely different. The yellow onion market is stable, while red onion sales are flat.
The regional exchange in Emmeloord hasn't compiled a listing for red onions for weeks. This was simply because there were too few, if any, transactions in these onions. In the past period, there has been, at most, occasional input into the listing for red onions.
This week, there's been a broader input, and based on that, it's been decided to set a quotation for red onions (coarse) at €15 to €18 per 100 kilos. While this still doesn't represent a large number of transactions, it's sufficient to establish a grower's price. The low interest is the reason the market for these onions remains subdued.
The yellow onion market, on the other hand, is very stable. Prices are rising, and growers expect prices to continue to rise. This confidence is primarily based on the unprecedentedly large volume being exported weekly. And we still have the normally peak weeks ahead of us.
In trade circles, it's considered logical that growers are asking more for their onions based on the high sales. On the other hand, traders point out that the sector also benefits from the exceptionally large flow of onions finding destinations abroad every week. They point to the large harvest resulting from high yields per hectare this year.
Everyone benefits from a fast-paced export market, as emphasized by various parties. Growers want to sell their produce at a good price, but traders and processors also want to profit from the product. And that's where the pressure is starting to mount, as the grower price is rising faster than the bale price. Of course, the sorters also still have onions in stock that they bought at a lower price, but margins are gradually becoming tighter.
Uncertain market after New Year's Eve
Another factor is the uncertainty surrounding the market's development after New Year's. Will Senegal still be on the market in the first weeks of 2026? That makes quite a difference. With weekly volumes of around 10.000 tons, this West African country is the most important customer for Dutch onions. Every year, it's a question of how long demand will last before the borders close again to protect its own crops.
Through week 42, Senegal has already received 105.000 tons of onions from the Netherlands. This puts the country well on track to import a record volume of over 180.000 tons this season. Ivory Coast is just as good as Senegal, having already imported around 90.000 tons of Dutch onions through week 42.
Ivory Coast buys slightly smaller quantities each week than its northern neighbor Senegal, but is normally on the market longer than Senegal. This means that Ivory Coast could eventually overtake Senegal in terms of imports from the Netherlands. Much will depend on further price trends, as sales to Ivory Coast are more sensitive to higher prices.
Very good
The quality of Dutch onions is generally excellent this season. However, there are some issues here and there. In some cases, this has even resulted in rejections. These are batches that require too much work to get right, or batches with so many internal problems that they're impossible to process.
Sometimes, there are buyers willing to take the risk for these batches at a reasonable price. Other processors avoid them because the risk of claims is too high. Moreover, such batches strain the capacity of sorting lines, which is something many processors can't use during this busy period.
Stock exchange listing
The price of large onions at the regional exchange in Emmeloord will rise this week by €0,50 to between €16 and €18 per 100 kilos. Finer lots will increase by between €1 and €0,50 to between €15 and €16,50 per 100 kilos. Several sorters note that nothing is actually available from the farmer for less than €18, unless there are quality issues. For later onions, the purchase price will rise to around €20 per 100 kilos.
Purchases for deliveries in the first quarter of next year are still very limited. Occasionally, sales are made at €20 to €22 per 100 kilos. Not every processor is willing to do this, pointing out that it's impossible to predict how sales will be at the beginning of next year. Those that are already selling at prices just above €20 often already have retail buyers who are more willing to pay a premium for good quality.