Netherlands onion harvest falls 15% due to drought and reduced planting area

Onion production from seed in the Netherlands declined by 15% in the 2026 season to 1.5 mln tons. The main reasons for the decline were summer heat, dry weather conditions and reduced planting areas, particularly for red onion varieties. Unfavorable weather affected crop development and yields in one of Europe’s leading onion-producing countries.

Average onion yield fell to 45.7 t/ha. Meanwhile, farms growing second-year onion sets achieved higher total production thanks to earlier planting. This allowed the crops to pass through important development stages before the most severe summer drought and partially avoid the negative effects of high temperatures.

According to Statistics Netherlands (CBS), actual crop losses could be even greater due to deterioration in the quality of harvested onions. The combination of prolonged drought, heavy rainfall and hail increased the risk of bacterial and fungal diseases. Restrictions on the use of crop protection products are creating additional challenges for growers and could complicate efforts to preserve onion quality during storage.

Lower production and the risk of storage losses could affect Dutch onion supplies on domestic and export markets. However, final harvest volumes and the extent of losses are still being assessed. Statistics Netherlands plans to publish its final onion production figures at the end of January 2027.

Tags: drought, Netherlands, onion