Rapidly approaching Christmas makes onion grower anxious

Ripples in a tumultuous export and an approaching Christmas make Dutch onion growers somewhat anxious. Buyers are therefore offering slightly less than in the past weeks. Until recently, 18 to 20 cents per kilo was readily paid to purchase onions directly from growers. Farmers were stuck with their product, and buyers had to pay increasingly more to obtain sufficient onions. This rising trend seems to have leveled off now, although Beurs Zuid and the exchange in Middenmeer recorded 19 cents at the top of their quotes this week. In Emmeloord, that is no longer the case. To respond to a somewhat calmer market sentiment, the top of the quotation in Emmeloord decreases by half a cent to 18 cents. According to buyers, there are currently plenty of good onions available for 18 cents per kilo. For slightly lesser quality, 16 to 17 cents is paid. This means the market is taking a pause. Many growers would like to make some deals before Christmas. Buyers see this as well and are therefore leaning back a bit more, after the buying wave in the past weeks when more was paid. There is also mention of an export that is proceeding less exuberantly than in the past weeks. Senegal and Ivory Coast seem somewhat over-supplied, which prompts exporters to slow down a bit. Guinea also appears to have ample supply, despite the limited availability of containers for transport to that country. All in all, as Christmas shipments approach, there are indeed some ripples in the export to West Africa. The date of January 1, 2026, when Senegal will officially close its border for imported onions, is also being pointed out. That date is approaching quickly. Senegal has already taken in a lot of onions, so there is a chance that the country will adhere to this closing date. On the other hand, Ramadan in 2026 starts on February 17. The fasting month ends on March 18. At that point, there will not be nearly enough local onions to meet the demand. Thus, there is also a good chance that the country will still allow some import onions in January to prevent a shortage. Second half of the season It remains to be seen what the sales opportunities will be in the second half of the season. The Netherlands has harvested a large crop. A lot of that has already been delivered, as exports have been proceeding at an unprecedented pace so far. However, this does not guarantee a successful second half of the season. Business transactions are indeed being made at rates of 20 to 22 cents, to be delivered early next year, but the number of transactions is still limited. These deals are primarily made for distribution to retail or Indonesia. In general, buyers are not yet eager to secure onions for early next year. They prefer to wait a bit longer and see what will be needed to keep the sorting and packaging lines running at that time.