Tough and little trade is typical of the carrot market at the moment. That in itself is also appropriate for this time of year. Some players in the market are not worried about this, while others are willing to compromise to get some trade going.
It is quiet in the export channel. The prices of Dutch carrots are too high compared to other suppliers in Europe. The relatively high transport costs between the Netherlands and Eastern Europe are an additional disadvantage compared to, for example, Germany.
The quality of the carrot in the Netherlands is a point of attention, several insiders warn. Carrots that were purchased in advance in December for delivery in March or April, for example, are now already being brought forward because the carrots are starting to wear out quickly. That is a big blow for flushers and traders and also means that players are very careful when entering into long-term commitments. What seemed like a great product and has deteriorated significantly in quality in just a month makes buyers a little more cautious.
Quality
There is a fairly large gap in the carrot market between what growers ask and what rinsers can pay. A grower with good carrots retains his product and does not want to drop below €200 per box. On the other hand, there is a relatively large supply of lesser carrots that are on the edge of class I or below. €150 per box or even less is also included. The DCA quotation b-peen has taken a small step back to €25 to €30 per 100 kilos. For c-peen the price remains the same at €28 to €32 per 100 kilos. The supply of large carrots is on the meager side at the moment, which is why the price remains reasonable.