Numbers say something different than sentiment in onion export

After the positive surprise in the first week of February, onion processors and traders were expecting a lower outcome in the following week. The export figure for week 7 will surprise them. After a dip in the last week of January, February started with a pleasant surprise as exports exceeded 20,000 tons. February is considered a challenging month, and achieving export volumes of 20,000 tons or more is not that easy. Moreover, many exporters and sorters felt differently than the outcomes suggested. It has been quite calm for many companies this month. Based on this, it was often heard that the exports in week 7 would be lower than in week 6. That will be a disappointment again, warned a sorter, describing the sentiment among a considerable number of his colleagues. However, according to preliminary figures from the KCB and the GroentenFruit Huis, week 7 delivers an export of 21,357 tons. That is even 1,000 tons more than in week 6, which is currently recorded as a week with an export volume of 20,358 tons. Why is it so important that the weekly exports exceed 20,000 tons? Many sorters and exporters believe that such an export is necessary to properly clear current stocks. There are also companies that set a much higher export volume of 25,000 to 30,000 tons per week as a benchmark for a good sales performance this season, but most companies think that with a weekly export of around 20,000 tons, the Netherlands is doing quite well in reducing stocks. One explanation for the discrepancy between sentiment and numbers is that the capacity in the Netherlands is much larger than the current quantities being sold. If sorters and packers put in a bit of effort, as much as 45,000 tons can cross the border. However, there is not that much demand at the moment. This is also quite normal in the second half of the season. After a period of high exports just before the turn of the year, it is challenging for sorters and packers to estimate the current export quantities. Some companies even go quiet from time to time because they want to sell some of their stocks of fine onions before preparing new onions for export. The prevailing sentiment that the market is sluggish is common among many companies, and therefore they do not immediately feel that the Netherlands is exporting more than 20,000 tons of onions per week. More than normal All in all, it is noteworthy that the exports in February manage to maintain a level just above 20,000 tons. The multi-year average for the second half of the season is about 17,500 tons per week. If the onion trade, sorters, packers, and exporters achieve an average of 20,000 tons weekly during this period, that is indeed an extraordinary achievement. In week 7, exports to Ivory Coast rose to nearly 5,500 tons according to preliminary figures. That country also makes an important contribution to the higher exports in the second week of February. Great Britain continues to do well. According to sorters, British buyers are making very sharp deals, yet export quantities to Great Britain of over 3,400 tons in week 7 are at a very good level. Furthermore, the Netherlands is doing good business with Guinea, Malaysia, Gambia, and Sierra Leone. Exports to Malaysia increased to nearly 1,300 tons in week 7, while exports to Guinea and Gambia held up well. Shipments to Sierra Leone were somewhat smaller in week 7, but over a longer period the country is buying almost a third more than last year. All in all, the Dutch onion export has reached a new milestone. In the second week of February, the threshold of 1 million tons has already been crossed. And that has never been achieved this early in the season before. The lead compared to other top years is slightly decreasing, but remains quite significant. Compared to the 2021 harvest, the lead is still more than 40,000 tons. Compared to the 2024 harvest, the current season still has an export that, according to preliminary figures, is 86,000 tons larger than a year ago.