Philippine Onion Market in Focus: Import Suspensions, Price Trends, and Market Outlook

The onion market in the Philippines is in a critical juncture as the Department of Agriculture (DA) has suspended the issuance of sanitary and phytosanitary import clearances for red onions, coinciding with the peak of the domestic harvest season. This suspension, effective since the end of January, is designed to shield local growers as their red onion yields reach a maximum in March. While almost all approved import shipments have entered the country, only a few late arrivals remain, with volumes too insignificant to disrupt the market according to authorities. However, onion farmers have raised concerns that imports shipped through February may have already pressured farmgate prices.

Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority confirms these worries, showing a 28.4% drop in farmgate prices year-on-year to just USD 0.79/kg in February. The DA maintains that imports were strictly meant to fill short-term gaps and that current measures are normal, seasonal restraints aimed at supporting local producers. Still, industry voices point to persistent structural issues like limited storage, high logistics costs, and uncoordinated market actions. As import flows pause and domestic harvests surge, the focus is now on whether these policy changes will stabilize prices or if deeper, long-term reforms are needed. Authorities will closely track price developments as the harvest continues and consider further actions if warranted—making the next several weeks crucial for Philippine onion market dynamics.

📈 Prices

Product	Type	Origin	Location	Delivery Terms	Latest Price (EUR/kg)	Prev. Price (EUR/kg)	Date	Sentiment
Onion	fresh	EG	Kairo	FOB	0.80	0.82	2026-02-21	Neutral/Soft
Onion powder	white	IN	New Delhi	FOB	1.55	1.57	2026-02-21	Neutral/Soft
Onion powder	grade – B	IN	New Delhi	FOB	1.28	1.30	2026-02-21	Neutral/Soft
Onions fried	crispy fried	PL	Lodz	FCA	3.48	3.48	2026-02-23	Stable
Onion	powder, organic	IN	New Delhi	FOB	2.62	2.64	2026-02-21	Neutral/Soft
Onion flakes, organic	–	IN	New Delhi	FOB	5.13	5.15	2026-02-21	Neutral/Soft

Philippines Domestic Farmgate Price (Feb, USD/kg): 0.79 (↓ 28.4% YoY)

🌍 Supply & Demand

• Import Suspension: No new SPS import clearances for red onions since January. Most approved imports have arrived and been absorbed by the market.
• Peak Domestic Harvest: Harvest season is now at its peak; increased domestic supply is expected through March.
• Limited Imported Stocks: Remaining imports are minimal and expected to be depleted by early March.
• Demand Outlook: With imports halted, domestic market is reliant on local supply. Demand likely steady, but pricing driven by local harvest dynamics.

📊 Fundamentals

• Farmers’ Concerns: Late import arrivals may have contributed to recent price drops and farmgate pressure.
• Market Structure: Ongoing logistical challenges, insufficient post-harvest storage, and weak coordination between producer and trader interests.
• Government Stance: Measures seen as seasonal and supportive, but stakeholders call for better forecasting and planned imports in future cycles.

☁️ Weather Outlook

• Philippines: Current weather conditions remain largely favorable, supporting ongoing harvest. No major weather threats are reported for March.
• Global: No significant weather events reported in major export regions (e.g., India, Egypt). This should keep global supply flows relatively stable for processed and imported onion formats.

🌎 Global Production & Stocks

• Philippines: Relying heavily on own harvest, with imports as seasonal fill-in (expected to resume post-September).
• Major Exporters: India and Egypt hold steady positions as major suppliers for processed and fresh onions to the global market; export prices remain soft but stable.

📆 Trading Outlook

• Short-term domestic prices in the Philippines could remain under pressure until post-harvest absorption, with inventory overhang easing by mid-March.
• Stakeholders should monitor local farmgate prices for further signs of support or instability; government policy may adjust if prices fail to stabilize.
• Buyers of processed onion products (powder, flakes) may find stable offers from India; fresh onion import activity will remain subdued until at least September.
• Market participants should track improvements in post-harvest handling and storage initiatives before the next import cycle.

📅 3-Day Regional Price Forecast: Key Markets

Market	Current Price (EUR/kg)	3-Day Forecast	Sentiment
Philippines, Domestic (Farmgate, USD/kg)	0.79	0.77 – 0.80	Soft/Stable
India, FOB (Powder)	1.28 – 2.62	1.28 – 2.65	Stable
Egypt, FOB (Fresh)	0.80	0.78 – 0.82	Stable

Note: Forecasts reflect likely stabilization as the Philippines’ domestic market absorbs the harvest and delayed imports. Import offers from India and Egypt remain on the soft side, but no major shocks expected unless policy or weather changes occur.