Onion exports rise again to over 900,000 tons

The Dutch onion exporters have exported more than 900,000 tons of onions this season. In week 2 of this year, the pace has picked up again, after quiet weeks around Christmas and New Year. The interim total for onion exports now stands at 904,328 tons, according to preliminary figures from the KCB and GroentenFruit Huis. Of this amount, 231,000 tons were shipped to West African Senegal. Never before has a country taken so many onions from the Netherlands. The previous record is also held by Senegal with 181,151 tons last season. In the most recent period - week 2 – a total of 26,112 tons were exported, according to the figures that have just been released. Senegal was again one of the largest buyers with 3,900 tons. That is less than the week before when 8,645 tons were shipped to this West African country. It is expected that this will decrease further in the rest of January, after which Senegal will close the door to protect local cultivation. This marks the end of a very successful campaign in exports to Senegal. Before the baton is completely handed over to European destinations, Ivory Coast will temporarily take the lead. That country was the largest buyer in week 2 with almost 4,600 tons. This is the largest quantity exported to this country since early December. In weeks 3 and 4, the exports to this country are expected to remain around 3,000 tons. Great Britain is making a strong entry this year. After about 2,500 tons in week 1, the intake in week 2 increased to nearly 4,300 tons. This is a large volume for the Brits. In weeks 3 and 4, the quantities do not seem to fall much smaller. Thus, sales to Great Britain are off to a strong start, as the weekly average this season is just under 3,000 tons. In week 2, exports to Mauritania, Gambia, and Malaysia also resumed. These are also destinations that have been performing well in export figures all season.