Muddling through a bit, that's how different traders are typing the carrot market at the moment. Some carrots are gone, but it is mostly quiet. Demand from Eastern Europe in particular has declined in two weeks.
The consequences of the war in Ukraine are now also becoming noticeable on the carrot market. The fragile confidence that, according to some insiders, was created a few weeks ago with a cautiously improving market is now being nipped in the bud. The demand for carrots from Eastern Europe is partly disappearing, because Poland or Romania, for example, have lost sales to Ukraine. On the other hand, the costs for processing and transport of the carrot are skyrocketing. Especially in the current market in which customers more or less have a choice of suppliers, this does not help Dutch sales within Europe.
Difficult market
There is not much trade in carrots and as far as anything is being done, things are not going well. An important part of the transactions that are now being made consist of parties that are declining in quality. Several flushers also have their own stocks and are keeping a low profile due to the disappointing demand. Some growers with good carrots in the refrigerator also do not feel called to do business at the current daily prices. 'You can always give away' is the adage of that group.
The DCA quotation for B-carrot takes a step back compared to last week. The quotation is €6 to €10 per 100 kilos. The bottom of the quote remains stable but the top has dropped €2. By far the most trade is done at €8 per 100 kilos. A little more is only given for very good carrots. The DCA quotation for the C-carrot has also fallen and this week amounts to €7 per kilo. The top is €8 and the bottom is €6 per 100 kilos.