Last year, Christmas didn't fall on the most favorable days of the week for onion processors. This is reflected in the export figures for week 52. Yet, exporters have nothing to be ashamed of. In fact, exports in week 52 were well over 2.000 tons above the five-year average.
In week 52, 24.106 tons of onions crossed the border, according to the latest figures from KCB/GroentenFruit Huis. Last year, by comparison, 21.700 tons of onions crossed the border in this week, and the five-year average is 21.985 tons. A total of 857.653 tons of onions have crossed the border so far this season. Last year, the figure was 765.221 tons.
Senegal in the lead
Senegal was the largest buyer of onions from the Netherlands in week 52, importing 6.830 tons. In total, the West African country imported 218.695 tons of Dutch onions this season. That's 35% more than the same period a year earlier. Number two this week is another regular customer: Ivory Coast. That destination accounts for a weekly export of 3.150 tons. In third place is a destination that has been importing onions from the Netherlands for only the third week this season: Indonesia. In week 52, 2.152 tons of onions went to the Emerald Belt. Great Britain is the only European export destination we encounter this week. The rest are all countries from Africa, Asia, and Central America.