Onion production is expected to grow 6,9% in SC in the 2025/26 harvest

This week, Epagri's Ituporanga Experimental Station (EEITU) held a field day to mark the start of the onion harvest in Santa Catarina. The event brought together more than 500 people to discuss prospects for the 2025/26 harvest, which remains positively forecast by the Center for Socioeconomics and Agricultural Planning (Epagri/Cepa): production is estimated at 594 tons, a 6,9% increase over the previous harvest.

This increase is attributed to a 1,2% expansion in planted area and an improvement in average yield, projected at 30,4 t/ha, compared to 28,8 t/ha in the previous cycle. Epagri/Cepa analyst Bruna Parente Porto emphasizes that the outlook for the onion harvest in Santa Catarina remains positive, provided the weather remains stable in the coming weeks. According to her, the combination of good light and lower humidity, especially during and after harvest, a crucial phase for bulb curing, should ensure high yields and reduce potential impacts on production quality.

Phytosanitary conditions are favorable: more than 90% of the areas are considered healthy, with only 10% registering complications — especially due to low temperatures or the presence of mildew (peronospora destructor), favored by high humidity.

"Onion harvesting begins in October, starting with early-season cultivars like Poranga, a variety developed by Epagri. Technical support is essential at this time to avoid losses and ensure good bulb quality," Porto emphasizes.

Epagri/Cepa technicians emphasize that the increase in production indicates attention on the part of producers, reinforcing the importance of planning costs and marketing strategies, since the greater supply tends to put pressure on prices and, consequently, reduce the profitability of the activity.

Onion market

Santa Catarina is currently in the onion off-season. The last price recorded to producers in Santa Catarina, compiled by Epagri/Cepa in June 2025, indicated that a 20-kg bag (Class 3 to 5) was sold at R$30,36, lower than the average production cost, estimated at R$1,67/kg.

In the wholesale market, the average price per 20-kg bag fell from R$57,02 in July to R$42,56 in August, a 25,4% drop in just one month. Prices are expected to continue falling as the harvest progresses in other Brazilian regions.

Foreign trade in decline

With the high domestic supply since the beginning of 2025, Brazil has sharply reduced its onion imports. In the first half of the year, the imported volume was 133,9 tons, equivalent to 53,6% of the total recorded in the same period in 2024, when the country imported 249,7 tons.

The decline became more pronounced in the second half of the year. In July, imports totaled 2.476 tons, and in August, only 137 tons—the lowest monthly volume since January. The main importing states were Paraná (55,1 tons), Rio de Janeiro (56 tons), and Rio Grande do Sul (26 tons).

The amount disbursed in August was US$29,5 (FOB), with an average price of US$0,21/kg, a 16,6% increase compared to July. Argentina remained the main supplier, accounting for 81% of the total, followed by Spain with 19%.

In Santa Catarina, the last imports were recorded in July, with 56 tons coming from Argentina (US$11,2). In August, there were no new foreign purchases, reflecting the greater domestic availability of the product.

Field Day and Harvest Opening

The Field Day in Ituporanga brought together leaders, producers, technicians, and students. Epagri President Dirceu Leite attended the event. "Epagri is proud to support Santa Catarina's producers with technology, technical assistance, and innovation to ensure a quality and competitive harvest and to make Santa Catarina stand out as the largest national producer of the vegetable," he said.

During the technical program, onion cultivars were presented, in addition to experiments on fertilization, disease management, weed control, combating root flies (a pest that caused losses in recent harvests) and organic onion production.

Partner companies also participated, bringing new cultivation technologies, agricultural implements, and irrigation systems. In the region, Ituporanga holds a significant role: of the 556.484 tons produced in Santa Catarina last harvest, 440 tons came from the region. 

According to EEITU manager Gerson Wamser, this event should be continued in the coming years to further integrate scientific research into the vegetable production chain. Santa Catarina, the country's leading onion producer, plays a key role in Epagri's research, which has already released 10 open-pollinated cultivars and has two hybrids under evaluation, all developed to meet the demands of growers, traders, and consumers.