Onion exports remain high at 1,19 million tonnes, but sales have recently shown a dip. Fluctuations in demand are slowing the pace somewhat. Read more about onion exports and sales developments.
The last known week is week 16, the second full week of April. In that week, 21.473 tonnes of Dutch onions were exported. In addition, another 630 tonnes of foreign onions went abroad via the Netherlands.
Ivory Coast was the largest buyer in week 16 with 2.720 tonnes. Sales to Great Britain decreased to 2.147 tonnes in that week. The British import far fewer onions from the Netherlands after Easter than before.
Relatively large sales to Israel, Brazil, Italy, and Spain ensured that total exports in week 16 exceeded 20.000 tonnes. Mauritania also contributed with weekly imports of more than 1.000 tonnes.
Indications from exports in weeks 17 and 18 suggest that exports were somewhat quieter over the past two weeks. Brazil made significant purchases in week 17, but volume for that country was already lower last week. Israel was also less active on the market than in the preceding three weeks.
Nevertheless, Dutch onion exports remain on track to set a new record this season. Despite a quieter week, the 1,2 million ton mark will be passed in week 17. With ten weeks remaining, exports of more than 1,3 million tons are within reach.
Foreign onions
Dutch exports of foreign onions fluctuate significantly. In the week after Easter, it amounted to less than 300 tonnes, but in the week before Easter, it was nearly 1.300 tonnes. This mainly involved Belgian onions that were destined for other destinations via the Netherlands.
In total, the Netherlands has sold approximately 42.300 tonnes of Belgian onions abroad this season. In addition, many German onions have also been exported via the Netherlands; slightly more than 23.500 tonnes so far this season. These are followed by France and Egypt, with slightly less than 5.000 tonnes from each country reaching a final destination via the Netherlands.
Those foreign onions go mainly to Guinea; a total of slightly more than 24.000 tonnes this season. Just under 17.000 tonnes were delivered to Ivory Coast via the Netherlands. Less than 10.000 tonnes of foreign onions were ultimately shipped to Senegal.