Onion import requirement to be set in October

THE estimated onion import requirement for later in the year is about 50,000 metric tons (MT) for the red variety and 35,000 MT for the yellow variety, according to the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI).

BPI Director Glenn Panganiban told BusinessWorld that the imports will help avert shortages, adding that import volumes will be finalized in October.

The BPI estimates the shortfall in domestic production as equivalent to three months’ supply for red onions and five months’ supply for yellow onions, he noted.

The government earlier allowed yellow onion imports of 25,000 MT.

“Depending on the estimates of our regional offices and monitors, ’yung ating kailangan lang ang dapat i-import plus or minus buffer (the import requirement will be tied to the actual shortfall and may include a buffer amount),” Mr. Panganiban said.

The national red onion inventory was 49,750 MT as of Aug. 15, equivalent to about 86 days’ demand, indicating that stocks will be sufficient until mid-November.

As of Aug. 15, yellow onion stocks hit 1,142 MT, with shipments of 6,140 MT of yellow onions incoming. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza