International demand for onions keeps exports stable

Total exports rose to 1,15 million tonnes at the beginning of this month. This brings the export record of 1,3 million tonnes from the 2021/22 season ever closer. The lead in the interim standings compared to that season still amounts to well over 50.000 tonnes.

Since the turn of the year, Dutch onion exporters have managed to keep the average weekly volume above 20.000 tonnes. It was tight for a while in February, but the average in weeks 6 through 9 came in at 20.033 tonnes. In March, the average picked up again to 20.602 tonnes in weeks 10 through 14.

Back on track quickly after a dip
Based on responses from exporters, it can be concluded that a dip should be expected for week 15, partly due to one day being lost because of Easter Monday. However, exports picked up the pace again in week 16. This is partly because Brazil has contacted the Dutch onion market.

In the first two weeks of April, an estimated 4.000 tonnes of onions were exported to Brazil. Ivory Coast, Sierra Leone, and Israel also emerged more prominently as buyers this month after a few quiet weeks. Guinea, on the other hand, dropped back somewhat in the first half of this month.

The main buyer remains Great Britain during this period. Since February, the British have been buying nearly 4.000 tonnes of onions weekly from the Netherlands. In week 14, there were seven destinations that each purchased more than 1.000 tonnes of onions.

Brazil relieves Morocco
The most striking name in this list is Morocco. Due to a shortage of local onions, that country is providing a boost to Dutch onion exports. In the same period last year, sales to this North African country amounted to exactly 0 kilos.

Sales to Morocco collapsed in April. Some exporters expect this country to return later in the season. Their conclusion is that the market became oversupplied in a short period of time. The temporary decline in sales to Morocco is more than compensated for by interest from Brazil.