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Onions
Area
planted
Onions are
produced in almost all the provinces of the RSA, namely in the Western Cape,
Northern Cape, Free State, Eastern Cape, Mpumalanga, Northern Province and the
North West Province. The area planted to onions in 1999 was 7 399 hectares,
which is 6% lower than the 7 817 hectares planted in 1998, and for 2000 it
is estimated at 6 088 hectares.
Production
Onions produced during 1998/99 contributed
approximately 10% to the production of vegetables excluding potatoes in South
Africa. The average growth rate of the volume of onions produced during the
period 1994/95 to 1998/99 was 7% per annum, with a record high increase of about
20% from 285 thousand tons in 1996/97 to 342 000 tons in 1997/98.
Sales
Approximately 71% of the total onion production is sold on the fresh produce markets, while 8% is exported. The remainder comprises own consumption and direct sales to supermarkets and chain stores and for processing.
During the period 1994/95 to 1998/99, the
volume of onions sold on the fresh produce markets grew at an annual average of
approximately 7%. The quantity of onions sold on the markets increased
substantially, by 32%, from 198 951
tons in 1994/95 to 262 394 tons in 1998/99, with
the largest increase of 14% from 213 071 tons in 1996/97 to 242 788
tons in 1997/98.
Prices
The average price of onions sold on the fresh
produce markets during the period 1994/95 to 1998/99 was R887/t, with an annual
average growth of 0,74%. The highest price increase was approximately 82%, from
R662 per ton in 1996/97 to R1 202 per ton in 1997/98.
Processing
Approximately
1% of the total production of onions was taken in for processing in 1998/99. Up
to 55% of onions taken in for processing is dehydrated and 30% canned, while the
remaining 15% is frozen. Over the past four years, onions taken in for
processing showed a negative growth of 6,6%, decreasing from 5 384 tons in
1994/95 to 4 224 tons in 1998/99.
Exports
Onions
exported represent about 8% of the total onion crop produced. Onion exports
increased at an annual average growth rate of approximately 38%, from 5 731
tons in 1994/95 to 280 982 tons in 1998/99, with the largest increase of
approximately 175% in 1997/98.
In
the Ceres region about 30% more onions was planted in 1998 than in 1997, with
the prospect to export the increase in production. These onions were, however,
not exported as planned and this contributed to the oversupply of onions on
the local markets. At one stage, as many as 700 000 bags of onions per week
were supplied to the markets. Fortunately this figure came down to about 393 000
bags per week during March 1999. If this trend continues the supply of onions
should return to normal—about 307 000 bags per week.