Output forecast to rise 41,000 tons above average, raising oversupply concerns; government and Nonghyup to jointly support exports while pursuing market intervention and consumption drives

Fresh onions from a new harvest [Getty Images Bank]
Fresh onions from a new harvest [Getty Images Bank]

The government is moving to expand onion exports to stabilize supply and demand after output this year is forecast to exceed normal levels, raising oversupply concerns.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs said Thursday it held a shipment ceremony at Hamyang Nonghyup in South Gyeongsang Province to mark the export of 100 tons of freshly harvested domestic onions to Taiwan.

Starting with Thursday's shipment, the ministry plans to support a total of 10,000 tons of onion exports — 2,000 tons through the government and 8,000 tons through Nonghyup. The supported volume could be expanded further depending on overseas demand and domestic production conditions.

Recent onion export figures have been modest, with shipments reaching just 58 tons for the 2024 crop year and 467 tons for the 2025 crop year.

This year, however, output of mid-to-late maturing onion varieties is forecast to reach 1.088 million tons — up 41,000 tons from the average — deepening concerns about a supply glut.

The ministry plans to channel some of the surplus into exports to manage domestic market supply, while also pursuing market isolation measures to stabilize supply and demand.

To counter rising supply and sluggish consumption, the government intends to remove from the market at least as much as the projected oversupply. It will also pursue government purchases for stockpiling and consumption promotion events to help stabilize prices.

"We are pushing ahead with export support for this year's fresh onion harvest to secure overseas markets for high-quality onions and stabilize domestic supply and demand," said Park Jeong-hun, director general for food policy at the ministry. "We will actively support onion supply stability and farm management by pursuing a full range of supply management measures, including expanded exports, government stockpiling and consumption promotion."


adastra@heraldcorp.com