Recent Onion Market Conditions

Yellow onions are still the most popular onions in the supermarket, mainly for 40 to 70 mm specifications. At the same time, processing industries and large buyers mostly require onions that are more than 80 millimeters in diameter. Fire onion and red onion have been popular for many years. There are many yellow, green and white onions in the supermarket, but white onions are still a niche product in Germany. Traders point out that small packs of 1kg, 3kg and 5kg dominate this market.

Spain: The storage is down but there is no shortage
At present, Spain's onion stocks are 15% lower than the same period of last year. There is no quality problem but the large size of onion (90mm or more) is lacking. The onions in the spot market are expensive, but the supply agreement with the retailer can be performed very well. Onion industry in Spain treats onions with a radius of 85 to 90 mm as medium, while in other parts of Europe, these onions are considered large. On the whole, onion prices are better than last year due to lower yields. Lower yields are the result of the hot summer weather, which led some growers to lose 30% of their production.

Spanish media said problems with the quality of Dutch onions due to abundant rainfall in September prompted Dutch onion traders to hurriedly sell onions because they knew that onions were not able to maintain good quality for a longer period of time. In addition, some important export destinations for Dutch onions are closing, which means they must quickly find alternative markets. Spanish traders buy Dutch onions at prices lower than the cost of production in Spain and sell them on the local market. Due to supply shortfalls in the Netherlands, France and Germany, Spanish traders expect a supply shortfall around April, implying that the first New Spanish onion will have good market conditions. In terms of exports, Spain, though it is trying to protect its domestic production from European competition, is in talks with the MERCOSUR to export to Latin America.

Italy: Onion prices rise
Allegedly, Italy's onion supply is low, but still not reached the Spanish market level. "The market has changed compared with a month ago," said one trader, "the price was very low before November," and the price for a 10-kilogram machine was 30 euro cents. As of December, prices have risen To 50 euro or so.