PH to import onions while waiting for new harvest

Metro Manila, Philippines - The government will import within two weeks 4,000 metric tons of onion for buffer stocks, a Cabinet official said on Thursday, Feb. 6.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel said the shipment of 3,000 metric tons of red onion and 1,000 metric tons of white onion will avoid a situation when the produce surged to a record high of P700 per kilogram due to a supply shortage worsened by delayed imports.

“We will not risk a potential shortage that unscrupulous traders could exploit to drive up prices, as we saw in the past. We do not want a repeat of the 2022 crisis,” he said.

The Department of Agriculture said red onion stock would last for the month. As of mid-January, the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) said the inventory of red onions was at 8,500 metric tons while over 1,600 metric tons for white onions.

According to a statement, BPI Director Glenn Panganiban, who recommended “minimal imports to prevent major price spikes,” said “several metric tons of onion” will be harvested this month and around 33,000 metric tons in the next.

“Also, due to the typhoons that hit late last year and prevalence of pests and disease, this importation is meant to be a buffer for possible supply gaps,” Panganiban said.

As of Wednesday, the DA reported the following price range in Metro Manila markets:

- Local red onion sold at P115 per kilogram to P220/kg i

- Local white onion at P120/kg to P140/kg

- Imported white onion at P80/kg to P160/kg

- No available data for imported red onions.