Carrot prices resistant to supply pressure

Carrot harvesting is currently underway, and theoretically, prices should be decreasing due to increasing supply. However, this is not the case this season. At least so far, there is no significant price drop in the Polish wholesale carrot market. Carrot prices seem to be resilient to supply pressure.

They are resilient at a higher level than in previous years. Currently, brushed and bagged carrots in large quantities have prices ranging from 1.00 to 1.50 PLN/kg, depending on quality and region. This is 41 percent more than the average of the previous five years. Such price levels can suggest a lot about how the winter-spring period of the 2024/2025 campaign will unfold, especially considering that Polish carrot prices could be even higher if not for competition from imports.

Competition is significant as the Dutch face a lack of demand for their carrots from African countries, leading them to seek opportunities more intensively than usual in Central and Eastern Europe at this stage of the season. Let's also take a look at prices in the Netherlands. In DCA listings, size B carrots (for the fresh market) are priced at an average of 14.50 euros/100 kg, the same as last year.

However, it's worth noting that in the Netherlands, prices sharply increased after the 44th week of 2023 in the 2023/2024 season. By week 4 of 2024, the average price in the Netherlands had risen from 15 to 40 euros/100 kg. Everyone remembers that price hike and is waiting to see if it will happen again this season. This will be crucial. If prices start to rise, it will be a strong indication of a repeat of an "expensive" season. The same could happen in Poland.