Carrot prices are stable, for now...
The situation on the carrot market has been relatively stable and calm for several weeks now. Not only in the Polish wholesale market for this vegetable, but also on a broader scale - in the EU market. Harvesting is ongoing and domestic produce is available everywhere, although it should be noted that in many European countries this year's yields are significantly worse than average.
This can be seen in Poland, where - as a reminder - according to estimates by the Central Statistical Office (GUS), we have the lowest carrot harvest in years, as shown in the chart below.
source: own elaboration based on GUS data
This is clearly reflected in prices in Poland - wholesale prices are higher than in the same period last year. Currently, washed and bagged carrot prices in the large Polish wholesale market range from 1.10-1.50 zł/kg. This is on average up to 30 percent more year over year. Many market participants expect that the period of stable prices and calm in the carrot market in Poland will end relatively quickly. They anticipate a repeat of last season's scenario, with no price drop and an upward trend as early as 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 that's where the most opportunities will be and they will appear the fastest. Carrot prices in the Netherlands are currently at 14.00-15.00 euro/100 kg for size B carrots, which go to the fresh market (DCA quotations, source: www.boerenbusiness.nl). This is exactly the same level as last year. Nothing is more expensive.
The carrot market looks completely different east of our border. In Ukraine, October has already brought some strengthening of carrot prices. The current average there is 0.44 USD/kg in conversion (source: east-fruit.com). This is twice as much as in the same period last season!