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Size and value of the different Allium crops in Australia

Tony Napier I&I NSW

The purpose of this report is to compare the size and value of the different allium crops grown in Australia. The area, production and value statistics were obtained from Ausveg who quoted 2007/08 ABS figures and market prices. The 2007/08 ABS figures have also been calculated against the 2010 market prices to get an understanding of pricing trends.

There are seven classifications of allium crops reported by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) and major produce markets in Australia. Below is a list and description of the alliums crops reported on by the ABS and major produce markets.

Bulb onions (Allium cepa). There are three main types of bulb onions including brown, red and white onions which are grown for their bulbs only.
Garlic (Allium oleraceum). These are grown for their bulbs only.
Leeks (Allium ampeloprasum var. porrum). These are grown for their leaves and thickened stem.
Spring onions (Allium fistulosum). This term means different things to different people. True spring onions are harvested with about 40cm of green leaves and a slightly enlarged bulb. Spring onions marketed in NSW are markedly different as they are generally a white bulbing variety that is harvested when the bulb is immature and the leaves are intact. They are commonly sold in bunches of 4 or 5 plants with about 2 bunches/kg.
Shallots (Allium cepa, aggregatum). This term also means different things to different people. True shallots are grown for their bulbs only. Shallots marketed in NSW are similar to true spring onion and are harvested with about 40cm of green leaves and a slightly enlarged bulb. They are marketed in bunches of about 20 plants with 3 bunches/kg. Shallots grown and marketed this way are also known as Eschallots (Allium ascalonicum).

Chives (Allium schoenoprasum). These are the smallest species in the allium family but are not mentioned in either the ABS or Sydney Market reporting service. It is suspected that any production of chives is recorded under spring onions or shallots. Due to insufficient data, chives have not been mentioned in this report.

Summary

Bulb onions (brown, red & white) constituted 94.4% of the total allium yield (t) in Australia during the 2007/08 season which represented 81.5% of the total allium value. Therefore it is estimated that garlic, leeks, spring onions and shallots constitute about 5.6% of 2007/08 Australian allium production (t) which is estimated to be worth 18.5% of the total Australian allium crop.

Table 1: Australian allium statistics for 2007/08
State
 Area (Ha)
 Production (tonne)
Estimated Price
($ / kg)
 Estimated gross value ($m)
All bulb onions
 5013
 254,363
 $0.81
 183.9
Garlic
 213
 773
 $5.80
 4.2
Leeks
 339
 6,337
 $2.76
 16.2
Spring onions & shallots
 537
 7,818
 $3.13
 21.5
Total
 		6,102
 		269,291
225.8

Source: Ausveg

 

Table 2: Percentage estimates of the 2007/08 Australian allium crop
State Area (%)
 		Production (%)
 		Estimated gross value (%)
All bulb onions 82.2 94.4 81.5
Garlic 3.5 0.3 1.9
Leeks 5.6 2.4 7.2
Spring onions & shallots 8.8 2.9 9.5

Source: 2007/08 ABS and 2010 Sydney market reporting service

The value of bulb unions remained unchanged at 81.5% when calculating its worth at current 2010 prices (see tables 3&4).

Table 3: Australian allium statistics for 2007/08 valued at 2010 Sydney market prices
State
 Area (Ha)
 Production (tonne)
Estimated Price
($ / kg)
 Estimated gross value ($m)
Brown onions 4,237
 214,186 $0.67 143.5
Red onions 534 27,869 $1.37 38.0
White onions 242 12,308 $1.10 13.5
All bulb onions
 5013
 254,363
195.0
Garlic
 213
 773
 $5.00
 3.9
Leeks
 339
 6,337
 $2.50
 17.7
Spring onions & shallots
 537
 7,818
 $2.93
 22.9
Total
 6,102
 269,291
239.6

Source: ABS and Sydney Market reporting service

Table 4: Percentage estimates of the 2007/08 Australian allium crop
State
 Area (%)
 Production (%)
Estimated gross value (%)
Brown onions 69.4
 79.5 59.9
Red onions 8.8
 10.3 15.9
White onions 4.0
 4.6 5.7
All bulb onions
 82.2
 94.4 81.5
Garlic
 3.5
 0.3 1.5
Leeks
 5.6
 2.4 7.4
Spring onions & shallots
 8.8
 2.9 9.6

Source: 2007/08 ABS and 2010 Sydney market reporting service

Production statistics by state

Bulb brown onions

The Sydney market reporting service showed that the price for brown onions ranged from $6 to $24 per 20kg bag (from January to June 2010). The average price was $13.40 per bag or $670/tonne. The ABS reported that 214,186 tonne of brown onions was produced from 4,237 ha during the 2007/08 season. If an average price of $13.40/bag was achieved, a gross return of $143.5m would be recorded.

Table 5: Australian brown onion production (2007/08)
State
 Area (Ha)
 Production (tonne)
Estimated Price
($ / kg)
 Estimated gross value ($m)
NSW 473 14,534 670 9,737,914
VIC 270 12,427 670 8,326,023
QLD 654 23,487 670 15,736,424
SA 1,083 64,167 670 42,992,158
WA 395 24,261 670 16,254,937
TAS 1,363 75,309 670 50,456,829
Total 4,237 214,186 670 143,504,285

Source: 2007/08 ABS and 2010 Sydney market reporting service

Bulb red onions

The Sydney Market reporting service showed that the price for red onions ranged from $6 to $20 per 10kg bag (from January to June 2010). The average price was $13.65 per bag or $1365/tonne. The ABS reported that 27,869 tonne of red onions was produced from 534 ha during the 2007/08 season. If an average price of $13.65/bag was achieved, a gross return of $38.0m would be recorded.

Table 6: Australian red onion production (2007/08)
State
 Area (Ha)
 Production (tonne)
Estimated Price
($ / kg)
 Estimated gross value ($m)
NSW 40 1,724 1,365 2,353,124
VIC 26 1,034 1,365 1,411,956
QLD 62 2,309 1,365 3,152,058
SA 237 13,649 1,365 18,631,295
WA 37 2,316 1,365 3,161,340
TAS 132 6,836 1,365 9,331,004
Total 534 27,869 1,365 38,040,776

Source: 2007/08 ABS and 2010 Sydney market reporting service

Bulb white onions

The Sydney market reporting service showed that the price for red onions ranged from $10 to $25 per 15kg ctn (from January to June 2010). The average price was $16.43 per ctn or $1100/tonne. The ABS reported that 12,308 tonne of white onions was produced from 242 ha during the 2007/08 season. If an average price of $16.43/ctn was achieved, a gross return of $13.5m would be recorded.

Table 7: Australian white onion production (2007/08)
State
 Area (Ha)
 Production (tonne)
Estimated Price
($ / kg)
 Estimated gross value ($m)
NSW 20 532 1,100 585,310
VIC 15 547 1,100 602,140
QLD 50 1,349 1,100 1,483,680
SA 126 8,239 1,100 9,063,340
WA 14 880 1,100 967,450
TAS 17 761 1,100 836,880
Total 242 12,308 1,100 13,538,800

Source: 2007/08 ABS and 2010 Sydney market reporting service

Garlic

The Sydney market reporting service showed that the price for imported garlic ranged from $15 to $100 per 10 kg carton (from January to June 2010). The average price was $50.00 per carton or $5.00/kg. The ABS reported that 773 tonne of garlic was produced from 213 ha during the 2007/08 season. If an average price of $5.00/kg was achieved, a gross return of 3.9 million dollars would be recorded.

Table 8: Australian Garlic production (2007/08)
State
 Area (Ha)
 Production (tonne)
Estimated Price
($ / kg)
 Estimated gross value ($m)
NSW 28 148,878 5.00 744,388
VIC 9 29,581 5.00 147,907
QLD 10 13,913 5.00 69,563
SA
WA 15 42,539 5.00 212,693
TAS 152 538,354 5.00 2,691,767
Total 213 773,264 5.00 3,866,319

Source: 2007/08 ABS and 2010 Sydney market reporting service

Leeks

The Sydney market reporting service showed that the price for leeks ranged from $15 to $70 per 10 kg carton (from January to June 2010). The average price was $28.00 per carton or $2.80/kg. The ABS reported that 6,337 tonne of leeks was produced from 339 ha during the 2007/08 season. If an average price of $2.80/kg was achieved, a gross return of $17.7m would be recorded.

Table 9: Australian Leek production (2007/08)
State
 Area (Ha)
 Production (tonne)
Estimated Price
($ / kg)
 Estimated gross value ($m)
NSW 26 195,971 2.80 548,20
VIC 221 4,475,821 2.80 12,532,299
QLD 22 466,909 2.80 1,307,345
SA 24 599,429 2.80 1,678,401
WA 42 516,305 2.80 1,445,653
TAS 4 82,259 2.80 230,324
Total 339 6,336,694 2.80 17,742,742

Source: 2007/08 ABS and 2010 Sydney market reporting service

Spring onions and shallots

Spring onions and shallots are grouped together in the ABS figures while the Sydney market reporting service reports on them separately. Spring onions and shallots are grouped together in this report. For the purpose of estimating their value, the total area and production figures are multiplied by an average of both prices. The price for spring onions ranged from $1.00 to $3.00/bunch (from January to June 2010) with an average of $2.00/bunch. The price for shallots ranged from $0.50 to $1.00/bunch (from January to June 2010) with an average of $0.62/bunch. With an average price of $4.00/kg for spring onions (at 2 bunches/kg) and an average price of $1.80/kg for shallots (at 3 bunches/kg) an average price of $2.93/kg is calculated for both spring onions and shallots. The ABS reported that 7,818 tonne of spring onions and shallots was produced from 537 ha during the 2007/08 season. If an average price of $2.93/kg was achieved, a gross return of $22.9m would be recorded.

Table 10: Australian spring onion and shallot production (2007/08)
State
 Area (Ha)
 Production (tonne)
Estimated Price
($ / kg)
 Estimated gross value ($m)
NSW 59 581,197 2.93 1,702,906
VIC 125 1,355,030 2.93 3,970,237
QLD 266 3,606,992 2.93 10,568,488
SA 14 419,700 2.93 1,229,720
WA 70 1,845,061 2.93 5,406,029
TAS 3 9,786 2.93 28,672
Total 537 7,817,765 2.93 22,906,052

Source: 2007/08 ABS and 2010 Sydney market reporting service

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