The high temperatures last summer were still affecting the onion market. Onions fade due to heat. Growers who have harvested onions before the heatwave now enjoy the benefits. In the field of exports, Italian onions have demand from Spain, Northern Europe and Arab countries.
Albania is a large onion consumer
Although there is no official data, according to one trader, Albania produces 60,000 tons of onions. The country seldom exports onions because domestic demand is very high. According to official statistics, Albania is the second largest consumer of onion, second only to Libya, consuming about 33 kg of onion per person per year. One trader said: "With prices so high, the price of onions remained stable throughout the year, keeping the prices low." The onions are mostly grown in the cooler southeastern parts of the country. The onion season lasts from late autumn until mid-winter. With the support of the government, the country is investing in storage facilities.
Israeli onion wants to compete with imported onions
At present, the price of red onions in the Israeli market is 1.14 euros per kilogram and that of white onions is 0.70 euros per kilogram, which is normal in winter. Due to annual planting and storage, onion prices are more stable. Most of the current supply comes from stockpiles. Onyx often can not grow and harvest onions, but imports a small amount of fresh onions. The Israeli onion season lasts from March to December, but due to the country's larger storage capacity, there is still an onion supply for the remaining months.
The Israeli onion industry is working to improve the quality of onions during off-season, with the goal of competing with imported onions, with a focus on how the onions are harvested and better stored and packaged.
America: Lack of big onions
There are currently onions in the U.S. market from Washington and Oregon. Plant growers in these states are bumper harvests, and their premium onions will be sold by the end of March or the first week of April. Oregon production is slightly lower than in previous years, but production in Washington is normal. Although traders are satisfied with the quality, due to the cold weather in Washington during the onion season, there is a shortage of oversize specifications. Due to the lack of large-size onions, the market conditions are better than in previous years. Onion supplies are stable, with growers in the northwest looking at Texas. In addition, the first batch of imported onions from Mexico have also been delivered.
South Africa: drought cut in Western Cape Province
The drop in supply has had an impact on the price of medium-sized onions at prices higher than recent years, at 50 rand (3.38 euros) per 10 kg. With the start of the Western Cape onion season, the price is expected to rise further. As new species of onions fall in the region, the supply of Easter eggs is expected to decline, which will continue from March until June. Northern Cape onion will be listed in the next two months. One trader described the situation as "an uneven market period."
In Western Cape, due to droughts, the size of new species of onions has dropped dramatically. Some growers claim that the new varieties of onions account for only 30% to 50% of normal area, while some growers have not planted any onions. Growers are more inclined to use available water resources on their fruits. Some predict that onions will shift to areas with sufficient water, and one trader even ventured to predict that the onion market will collapse from October. Internationally, oil prices continue to affect the demand for onions. At a price of 70 dollars a barrel, demand from Angola, a neighboring country, is on the rise, putting pressure on the market.
Tanzania stops exporting onions to South Sudan
Onion exporters in Tanzania have stopped exporting their onions to Juba in South Sudan. They are concerned about the safety of the routes that lead Kenya to unsafe South Sudan. Although this market is lucrative for exporters - especially for Arusha traders, fewer and fewer drivers are willing to drive to northern Kenya and South Sudan. Exports to Mombasa, Kenya, are unimpeded.
Peru promises to export more sweet onions
The South American country exported 109,200 tons of sweet onions between August last year and January 2018, up 5% from 104,000 tons a year earlier. To date, the largest share of them, between 85% and 90%, has been exported to the United States and the rest to Europe and Latin America. Exports account for 98% of Peruvian onion production and only 2% are sold in the domestic market.
Brazil prepares for the onion season to end
On the third week of January, there was heavy rainfall in the Lebanon Regis region and the onions suffered losses. Harvesting will continue until February, so the quality of the onion that is still in the ground may be affected. In addition, due to the droughts in September last year, growers said that the supply of small-sized onions is even greater. In the weeks leading up to the rains, the total supply was lower due to a decrease in supply in the Northeast and a slight increase in prices.
China: Smooth onion export season approaching the end
In mid-2017, due to the extremely dry weather, the supply of Korean onions is declining, giving Chinese exporters an opportunity. Chinese onion exports have increased, the domestic onion industry responded to this request for more onions, pledges to have enough stock later in the onion season.
However, the export of onion to South Korea declined in the second half due to weakening of South Korea's economy, leading to a decline in import demand. Exporters still have the opportunity to increase their trade with South Korea before the Spring Festival (early February), after which the export season will end.
China is a large onion producing country, the most important producing areas in Shandong, Inner Mongolia and Gansu. About 40-50% of the onions are exported to Southeast Asia, most of which are yellow onions because India and Pakistan have the red onion market at a lower price.
Oceania is expected to suffer losses due to rainfall and droughts
Australia and New Zealand are experiencing difficult footages this season. Growers in New Zealand are affected by bad weather, with excessive rainfall in recent months, followed by droughts, with some predicting a loss of up to 15%. Harvest period from November until April, the export season will then start in January and continue until May. Last year was a good season for New Zealand onion exports, the value of exports increased by 53%, however, Oceania is still a small player worldwide, accounting for 3.3% of onion market share.
In neighboring Australia, the price for a ten-kilogram onion is 2.50 Australian dollars (1.60 euros). Last year the price of onions hit a record, compared with the price disappointing to growers this year
