Low Spanish onion prices due to import pressure; Italian Borettana supply limited

Spanish onion prices fell sharply in July 2026, with some offers as low as €0.03/kg, due to strong import competition from non-EU countries. Italian Borettana onion harvests are also limited after extreme weather and reduced sowing.

The Spanish onion sector in the Comunitat Valenciana faced severe commercial pressure during the 2026 campaign, with farm-gate prices dropping significantly below production costs. By July, Spanish onion growers were offered as little as €0.08/kg, with prices in the final stage of the campaign falling to €0.03/kg. Production costs for onions in Spain are estimated at over €0.25/kg, meaning growers sold at a substantial loss or left crops unharvested.

Spanish industry representatives attribute the price collapse to high volumes of imported onions arriving from countries such as Chile, Peru, Israel, Egypt, Morocco, Senegal, and New Zealand. This influx of non-EU onions, alongside increased potato imports from France, saturated both the Spanish and wider European markets, slowing demand for local produce and keeping prices at historic lows.

In Italy, the Borettana onion campaign began with a significant reduction in sown area, with seed availability halved compared to previous years. High temperatures slowed plant growth, and a severe storm in the Reggio Emilia region brought 60 mm of rain in one hour, damaging both crops (400–500 tonnes affected) and storage infrastructure. Total expected harvest for the main supplier is estimated at 600–700 tonnes, only slightly higher than last year due to new producer partnerships, but overall supply remains tight.

The Italian sector reports that energy costs for storage have doubled, and climate factors are forcing changes in post-harvest handling. The combination of reduced area, weather damage, and increased costs is expected to keep Italian Borettana onion availability limited for export in 2026.

The supply and price situation in Spain and Italy could affect onion imports into Poland and other Central European markets, with competitive non-EU offers likely to continue influencing price levels in the region.

Material prepared by the editorial team of fresh-market.info, editor Artur Spiker