Onion exports from the Netherlands rose by 23 per cent during January to November last year to 761,000 tonnes, compared with 619,000 tonnes in the same period of 2007, according to new figures published by Dutch marketing organisation Productschap Tuinbouw and compiled by KCB.
According to the group, growth was particularly strong in onion exports to Africa and Russia, with the latter taking the bulk of shipments during the first half of the year.
Exports to other EU countries rose by 2 per cent to 310,000 tonnes, but shipments to countries outside the Union there was a more marked increase - up 43 per cent to 451,000 tonnes.
Shipments to Russia were up 46 per cent to 97,000 tonnes during the January-November period, while a 21 per cent rise saw exports to Africa reach 213m tonnes.
Volumes sold to the UK were 9 per cent higher year-on-year at 93,000 tonnes, volumes to Germany were 4 per cent greater at 50,000 tonnes, and exports to Belgium and Luxembourg were 19 per cent up at 36,000 tonnes.
Other rises were noted in Poland (up 56 per cent to 23,000 tonnes), Central America (up 39 per cent to 44,000 tonnes) and Malaysia (up from 17,000 tonnes to 37,000 tonnes).
The only major fall in onion exports was noted in France, where volumes for the period were down 4 per cent to 37,000 tonnes.
