Dutch mini-cucumber acreage up, Spanish competition delayed start; prices stabilise
Dutch mini-cucumber prices stabilised after a slow start caused by extended Spanish supply and weak demand, while standard cucumber prices surged in recent weeks.
In the Netherlands, the 2026 mini-cucumber season began slowly due to Spain remaining on the market longer and with higher volumes than usual. This delayed the entry of Dutch mini-cucumbers and kept prices under pressure through early summer. However, with Spain now fully withdrawn, Dutch mini-cucumber prices have stabilised and demand from the retail sector has increased. A slight increase in Dutch mini-cucumber acreage was reported compared to last year, with significant sales growth in this segment. Standard cucumber prices in the Netherlands saw a sharp rise over the past week and a half, described by traders as 'sky-high', following a challenging start to the season. The recent heatwave in north-western Europe affected cucumber plants but benefited sales, as higher temperatures boosted market activity and demand for both standard and mini-cucumbers. Spanish cucumber production under protected systems, particularly in Almería and Granada, continues to focus on high-yielding varieties with staggered planting schedules to ensure year-round supply. Most Spanish cucumbers are consumed domestically, but the extended presence of Spanish product on the market in early summer increased competition for Dutch growers and traders, impacting export flows to central and eastern Europe. In Hungary, the area under field-grown pickling cucumbers declined slightly to around 330 ha in 2025, with a harvest of approximately 20,000 tonnes. However, greenhouse cucumber production has doubled in the past eight years, with higher output and increased technological investment. Polish importers continue to monitor these developments, as shifts in supply and export competition from the Netherlands and Spain influence cucumber prices and availability in Poland and neighbouring markets.
Material prepared by the editorial team of fresh-market.info, editor Artur Spiker