Last Thursday, there was an unexpected stir in the Dutch onion market when a ship needed to be filled with onions. "Grower and bale prices suddenly shot up. The medium sorting was priced at €0.35, baled, and is reaching €0.40," says Eric Moerdijk of Monie in the Netherlands.
He expects the current price to hold up. "Usually, this time of year - mid-November to Christmas - is quite stable, with Senegal as the biggest buyer. We largely depend on West Africa now. Fortunately, European countries are actively inquiring, not yet in large volumes, but it would be nice if we could take a healthy step up."
However, according to Eric, the onions' quality remains an issue. "The different batches' quality varies considerably. The better ones sell well. The question is, though, how many of the inferior lots remain. There are quite a few with fusarium or internal problems," he says.
Red onions have been pricey all season. "Those are still rising, too, but there are doubts about acreage figures. They don't match seed sales, and the mood is largely based on those figures. What happens later if the acreage figures are incorrect and there are more red onions than expected?"
"Also, trading at these higher prices remains very risky. If a batch disappoints, size or tare-wise, and you miss, say, 10% on a €0.60 to €0.70 purchase price, you're talking serious money. Still, experience shows that when the stakes are high, it's easier to maintain red onion prices than yellow," Moerdijk concludes.
For more information:
Monie Nieuwdorp
61 Hertenweg
4455 TK, Nieuwdorp, NL
Tel: +31 (0) 113 612 845
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.monie.nl