Rising onion prices in Spain and Italy amid supply shortages

Onion prices in Spain and Italy have increased due to heatwaves and extreme weather that have limited supply during the ongoing harvest.

On the Mercamadrid wholesale market in Spain, onion prices between July 21 and 24 ranged from €0.46 to €0.50 per kg. In Catalonia (El Llobregat), young onions traded at around €1.0 per kg between July 13 and 19. Italian wholesale markets are also reporting price increases, especially for round white onion, as a result of heatwaves and hailstorms in northern Italy that have reduced vegetable availability.

Adverse weather continues to restrict onion supply in affected regions of Spain and Italy. High temperatures are slowing the harvest and increasing the risk of storage losses. The competitive landscape is intensifying between Spanish and Italian producers, while intra-EU imports, including Polish onions, may influence commercial flows in southern Europe.

In Eastern Europe, particularly Ukraine, the general vegetable supply is higher than usual, but onions are not among the most actively traded vegetables. The increased overall vegetable availability in the region could impact price competition in Central and Eastern European markets.

In the United Kingdom, a new pest monitoring program has been introduced in onion fields to reduce losses and stabilize production. The adoption of advanced technologies could affect future UK onion export potential to European markets.

The ongoing supply limitations and higher prices in Spain and Italy may affect import demand from these countries, including from Poland, as buyers look for alternative sources to meet market needs.

Material prepared by the editorial team of fresh-market.info, editor Artur Spiker · Illustrative image generated by AI