The first arrivals on 20 March officially kicked off this year's overseas onions season. Hendrik Hachmann, an onion importer and co-managing director of Mitteldeutsches Handelskontor GmbH, predicts that there will probably not be widespread packaged goods for German food retailers until around Easter. For now, good quality is expected, with the quantity for the German market only slightly smaller than in the previous year, according to initial forecasts. "However, logistics are challenging this year, which in turn is due to the changes in the shipping company schedules, the avoidance of the Suez Canal, and correspondingly longer transit times. By contrast, the focus on Europe and the elimination of customs duties are having a positive effect on the competitiveness of New Zealand onions."
Insight into onion cultivation in New Zealand.
In addition to New Zealand, the Calbe-based company also imports and distributes yellow onions from Australia, South Africa and Chile. Hachmann: "Due to the high customs tariffs (9.6 percent), we have significantly reduced our import volumes from Tasmania. We will only purchase about a third of the previous year's volume, which will arrive at the beginning or middle of April. We had originally planned to import around 20 containers from South Africa. However, this is a very early onion, while the German food retail sector is not expected to gradually switch over until the end of April. Accordingly, the time frame would actually be too small in relation to the high risks, which is why we had to cancel the planned containers with a heavy heart. The goods of Chilean origin are mainly beef onions, which are expected to arrive from mid-April."
© Mitteldeutsches Handelskontor GmbHOn the North Island, the harvest began similarly to previous years, while on the South Island, it got underway around two to three weeks earlier than usual.
Bountiful harvest year in Eastern Germany
Mitteldeutsches Handelskontor GmbH is an affiliate of the Mitteldeutsches Zwiebelkontor and is responsible for all imports and purchases abroad. Hachmann emphasizes that the import volumes and seasonal planning are always aligned with the cooperative's own yields. "In contrast to many other growing areas, we had a relatively abundant harvest last year. Surprisingly, the volumes then drained rapidly, which is due to both the high demand on the domestic market and the continuous demand in Eastern Europe. We now only have the last ULO goods and residual quantities, which will be enough for the demand in the food retail industry, but we have hardly any more non-contracted goods available."
Apart from the countries of origin mentioned above, there are no other alternatives in the yellow onion sector. Argentina and Egypt have not yet been able to meet the high-quality criteria of the German food retail industry when it comes to yellow onions.
Seamless transition expected for red onions
In addition to importing and distributing yellow onions, the specialized company also sources red onions of Egyptian origin. The first containers will be shipped at the end of April, according to Hachmann. "Although there is talk of a scarce supply of goods, we have not felt any price effects to date. We will be able to ensure an adequate supply of onions from our own storage until the start of the Egyptian season, so we expect a seamless transition between seasons. We will also be able to supply our customers with shallots, for which we have achieved a strong increase in area and volume this year, until the end of April. Subsequently, we will be able to source supplies from France," the company concludes.
For more information:
Hendrik Hachmann
Mitteldeutsches Handelskontor GmbH
Brumbyer Weg 34-40
D-39240 Calbe/Saale
+49 39291 46 53 04
info@handelskontorgmbh.de
www.zwiebelkontor.de