In W30 in the onion landscape, it was reported that unpredictable spring weather initially affected onion crop prospects in the Columbia Basin shared by Washington and Oregon, United States (US). However, conditions have improved, and onion maturity is only slightly delayed. Cold and wet spring weather initially slowed planting, but favorable conditions later allowed onion plants to catch up. The region anticipates a similar onion acreage, with yellow onions at 80%, red onions at 15%, and white onions at 5%. Early onion harvest is set for August, followed by storage of onions until October.
On the other hand, Peruvian onion exports have rebounded, growing by 1% in volume and 3% in value in the past month. This improvement is due to the strong demand for Peruvian onions in Spain, where a shortage has arisen due to unfavorable campaigns in European-producing countries. Shipments to Spain surged by 74% in volume and 111% in value, with prices rising by 21%. However, exports to the US declined by 37% in volume and 36% in value. Despite lower volume, prices increased slightly by 1%.
Onion harvesting is facing delays due to drought in some regions of Poland, leading to limited supply and stable producer-level prices. Demand for exports, notably from African countries like Senegal, has risen. Senegal's early market entry, driven by depleted local stocks, has influenced Dutch onion exports. Drought conditions are also affecting the Netherlands, requiring widespread irrigation. Spring-sown onion crops exhibit significant variability, and recent unsorted field onion prices range from USD 41.09/100kg to USD 49.30/kg (EUR 37.50/100kg to EUR 45/100 kg. Georgia has experienced even higher prices since Jun-23 due to low local supply and robust demand. However, prices have recently dipped below 2022 levels, raising concerns about the forthcoming season's performance. The primary onion harvest in Georgia typically commences around August to September, with limited local supply before this period. The country relies on onion imports due to insufficient domestic production, making both local and global market dynamics crucial factors influencing Georgian onion prices. The average wholesale price of onions plummeted from USD 0.58/kg (GEL 1.50/kg) on July 21 to USD 0.38/kg (GEL 1/kg) during W30, marking a one-third decline week-on-week (WoW). This shift is attributed to a bountiful early harvest in the Shida Kartli region and the influx of cost-effective imports from Azerbaijan, leading to increased supply and subsequent price pressure.
During the first half of 2023, Tajikistan exported 103 thousand tons of agricultural products valued at USD 24.1 million, a decrease of USD 3.6 million compared to the same period in 2022. Onion exports declined by 19.6% compared to the first half of 2022. Despite expecting a record onion harvest of approximately 700 thousand tons from over 17 thousand hectares (ha) of cultivated land this year, farmers are facing challenges in finding wholesale buyers. The cost of producing onions is around USD 0.14/ kg (TJS 1.5/kg), while buyers, including exporters, are offering USD 0.16-0.20/kg (TJS 1.8-2.2/kg). Lastly, due to an ongoing scarcity of onions in Meru County, Kenya, traders are importing onions from other regions to meet demand. Local onion farms are experiencing a deficit in production, leading to substantial price increases. Some traders have turned to imported onions, notably from Somalia, to supplement supply. Despite the price differential favoring imported onions due to local scarcity, consumers still prefer Kenyan onions for their quality and taste. Concerns about the appearance and potential chemical usage of imported onions have led to consumer hesitancy. The price of imported onions stood at USD 0.91/kg (KES 130/kg), while local onions were priced at USD /kg (KES 150/kg) due to scarcity. It is anticipated that prices may remain high for a month or two until the next harvest, as factors like high production costs and economic challenges contribute to reduced onion yields.
