From ABC Rural High dollar taking shine off onion exports Wednesday, 17/03/2010 The high Australian dollar is taking the shine off good export onion prices this season.
Tasmania is currently shipping onions to Europe and Asia to fill the annual three-month production gap.
A shortage of onions in both the northern and southern hemispheres has pushed the prices up, but the exchange rate means not much is making it back to producers.
John Hoskin, from Field Fresh Tasmania, says the company will export 40,000 tonnes this season.
"I can't hide the fact that the price is encouraging this year, it's been very good, and demand continues to grow and price seems nearly daily to be heading upwards," he says.
"Although, a lot of the upside is being taken away from us as a business and probably the industry as a whole, given the very, very strong Australian dollar negates most, if not all, of that upside in pricing at the moment."
WBA Price at posting:
46.6¢ Sentiment: Hold Disclosure: Held
