Value of US onion imports up 14% year-over-year

Imports of fresh and frozen onions into the United States hit a record last season, totaling $537 million, according to the U.S Department of Commerce data. It is an increase of 14% compared to 2020 and 17.2% compared to 2019.

The main supplying countries were Mexico ($369 million), Peru ($88 million) and Canada ($54 million).

In the US, bulb onion production destined mostly for fresh-eating use fell 8% in 2021, primarily due to the effects of unusually dry and warm weather in the Pacific Northwest.

As an example, after reaching an all-time high in 2020, bulb onion yields in Washington fell 30%, by far the steepest year-over-year drop in crop yield on record in the state.

Regarding onion imports, the heat wave in the Northwest Pacific Ocean decreased yields per hectare and the size of onions in the 2021 campaign and the increasing demand from a recovering food service resulted in higher prices for onions in the 2022 season.

The delayed start of imports of Mexican spring onions (due to cold weather) in Texas and the start of the campaign in Georgia helped lower prices slightly in the beginning of spring quarter.

source: opportimes.com