By Mark Wocial, Certified Global Business Professional, Wocial & Associates LLC
According to the United Nations international trade statistics, New Zealand exported on average 157,000 metric tons (MT) of fresh onions and shallots annually between 2009 and 2018. In 2018, New Zealand exported 134,000 MT.
Europe accounted for over half of New Zealand’s fresh onion exports between 2009 and 2018. The most important markets included the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium and the United Kingdom. In 2018, exports to Europe amounted to almost 70,000 MT.
Asia was the second largest export destination, representing around 35 percent of onion shipments from New Zealand between 2009 and 2018. Indonesia was the largest market, followed by Japan, Malaysia and Taiwan. In 2018, New Zealand exported approximately 46,000 MT to Asia.
The Pacific Islands accounted for close to 8 percent of New Zealand’s onion exports between 2009 and 2018. The most important destinations included Fiji, Papua New Guinea, French Polynesia, New Caledonia and Samoa. In 2018, New Zealand exported almost 18,000 MT to the region.
Australia exported an average of 48,000 MT of fresh onions and shallots annually between 2009 and 2018. In 2018, Australia exported 34,000 MT.
Europe was the largest export destination for Australian onions, accounting for almost 60 percent of shipments between 2009 and 2018. Germany and Belgium were the largest markets, followed by the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. However, exports to Europe declined in recent years and amounted to only 8,000 MT in 2018.
Australian exports to Asia represented over one-third of its fresh onion exports between 2009 and 2018. However, as exports to Europe declined, the market share of Asian exports increased. The most important markets included Japan, Malaysia, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore. In 2018, Australia exported 19,000 MT of fresh onions to Asia.
In other regions of the world, the United Arab Emirates was an important market for Australian onions. In contrast to New Zealand, Australian exports to the Pacific Islands were much smaller and amounted to only 2,000 MT in 2018.
Author’s note: This information is based on the author’s analysis of the international trade data collected by the United Nations International Trade Statistics Database.
