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Michel Veltman, Waterman Onions:

"Renewed optimism for second half of Dutch onion export season"

The Dutch onion market is currently transitioning from the first to the second half of the export season. "In the first weeks of January, exports were still quite strong because Senegal remained open longer. In other years, export volumes sometimes dropped significantly in January, but that's not the case this year, and Berlin doesn't feel so far away anymore. In the Netherlands, we saw a small price adjustment to catch up, but this has kept the gap with the European market relatively small," said Waterman Onions sales manager Michel Veltman.

"We look back on a good first half of the export season. The season started slowly, but once demand picked up, we saw orders coming in from all continents. This resulted in a significant export volume, which was necessary given the harvest estimates," Michel continued. "The very different pricing compared to last year allowed us to compete well in the global market. In recent years, other producing countries like China were in the lead, but this year, Dutch onions have been competitive in all markets. While we had to deal with some bacterial pressure domestically, I'm quite satisfied with the average quality we've seen, enabling us to supply good-quality onions to all destinations."

"This has allowed us to fill a substantial portion of the stock of Dutch onions, although there is still a considerable volume left to sell. That availability will largely determine the price, along with the volume that might not make the cut due to quality issues," Michel added. "An advantage for us is that neighboring countries like Germany and Austria are also raising their prices as their stocks dwindle and quality becomes an increasing concern. We are already noticing greater interest in Dutch onions from southern and eastern Europe. Overall, we are optimistic about starting the second half of the season."

Red onion sales have also been remarkably strong. "At the start of the season, we expected a significant volume of red onions due to increased planting, but demand for red onions has been very strong throughout the year. There has also been considerable overseas export. As a result, stocks of red onions are lower than we initially anticipated. The current high demand for large red onions could even affect availability later in the season," Michel noted.

Organic onions have also reached remarkably high price levels this year. "There are significant shortages due to disappointing harvests and quality issues in some areas. This has driven prices up this season. Initially, we expected prices to remain at normal levels, but that has not been the case in the free market. While high prices have dampened demand for organic onions across Europe, the limited supply has kept the market well balanced," Michel explained.

Waterman Onions will be exhibiting alongside other members of the Waterman Food Group (Roussel Onions, BioQrops, Sawari Fresh, Biesheuvel Garlic, Jawa, and Faiafood) at the Holland Pavilion during Fruit Logistica: Hall 3.2, C-33.

For more information:
Michel Veltman
Waterman Onions
Tel: +31 (0)6 10 09 83 82
michel@waterman-onions.nl
www.waterman-onions.nl