Carrot prices are stable, for now...

The situation on the carrot market has been quite stable and calm for several weeks now. And not only on the Polish wholesale market of this vegetable, but also on a wider scale - in the EU market. Harvesting is ongoing and domestic goods are available everywhere, although it should be noted that in many European countries this year's yields are significantly lower than average.

This is evident in Poland, where - as a reminder - according to GUS estimates, we have the lowest carrot harvest in years, as can be seen in the chart below.

source: own elaboration based on GUS data

In Poland, this is clearly reflected in prices - they are higher in wholesale compared to the same period last year. Currently, the prices for washed and bagged carrots in the Polish wholesale market range from 1.10-1.50 PLN/kg. This is on average up to 30 percent higher year on year. Many market participants expect that the period of stable prices and calm on the carrot market in Poland will end relatively quickly. They anticipate a repeat of the scenario from last season, with no price decrease and an upward trend starting in November.

However, it will certainly be under pressure from imports. The situation in the Netherlands is different from that in Poland. Firstly, the yields are good. Secondly, there is no export to Africa, so traders there are forced to focus on Central and Eastern Europe because there will be more opportunities and they will appear sooner. Carrot prices in the Netherlands currently range from 14.00-15.00 euro/100 kg for size B carrots, which go to the fresh market (DCA prices, source: www.boerenbusiness.nl). This is exactly the same level as last year. No price increase.

The carrot market looks completely different east of our border. In Ukraine, October has already brought some strengthening of carrot prices. Currently, the average price there is 0.44 USD/kg (source: east-fruit.com). This is twice as much as in the same period last season!