Paraná returns to having good production in the 24/25 onion harvest

After a sharp drop in onion production due to weather conditions, which led to an increase in imports in 2024, Paraná once again had good production in the 2024/25 harvest, with 127,6 thousand tons, a growth of 44% compared to the previous cycle. This is mainly due to the use of technological improvements in crops in the Guarapuava region.

The trade relations between Brazil and Paraná with partner countries, particularly Mercosur, in relation to onions, are the subject of the Agricultural Situation Bulletin for the week of March 14 to 20. The document is prepared by analysts from the Department of Rural Economy (Deral), of the State Secretariat of Agriculture and Supply (Seab).

Onion cultivation will also be discussed this Friday (21) and Saturday (22) at the XXVI Seminario de Cebolla del Mercosur, which will be held in Viedma, in the Province of Rio Negro, and in Hilário Ascasubi, in the Province of Buenos Aires, both in Argentina. Agricultural engineer Paulo Andrade, a crop analyst at Deral, will be participating in the event as a speaker.

Paraná harvested 88,6 thousand tons of onions in 2024, a drop of 21,1% compared to the previous year, when 112,4 thousand tons were harvested. However, in the current harvest the volume rose to 127,6 thousand tons, with the best productivity in the last 10 years – 38,9 thousand kilos per hectare. In this period, the highest production was in 2016, with 130,8 thousand tons.

“Last year was greatly influenced throughout Brazil due to climate conditions, but what we are seeing now is that the Guarapuava region is becoming more technologically advanced very quickly, producing 50 tons per hectare, while others are producing 20 tons,” said Andrade.

The expectation is that there will also be an increase in the area planted with onions in the state. In recent years there has been a gradual decrease, going from 5.859 hectares in 2016 to 2.701 hectares in the 2023/24 harvest. In the last cycle it has already increased to 3.277 hectares.   

Due to low Brazilian production, the country imported 257,4 thousand tons in 2024, with an expenditure of US$ 84,4 million. This represented a 92% increase over the 134,1 thousand tons purchased in 2023, and a 174% increase over the amount of resources. In that year, the country invested US$ 30,8 million.

Last year, Paraná imported 32,5 thousand tons of onions at a cost of US$ 8,6 million. In 2023, the state had purchased 9,8 thousand tons, with an investment of US$ 1,9 million. In 2014, Paraná imported onions from five countries, with Argentina standing out, which sold us 27,9 thousand tons. The others are Chile, Uruguay, Spain and the Netherlands.

Corn – the Deral document also states that Paraná is finishing planting the second corn crop, with at least 91% of the more than 2,6 million hectares projected having been sown. However, heat waves and irregular rains are not helping good development at this time.

The harvest of the first crop reached 84% of the 267 thousand hectares planted in the cycle. It is estimated that 2,8 million tons will be harvested, with an average productivity of over 10.400 kilos per hectare, which would be the highest in history for a first corn crop in the State.