Roots & Tubers review: Q1 2021

  • Published on 28/04/2021 - Published by GERBAUD Pierre
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The ethnic products market had a quiet Q1 2021. Most products established a relative balance between supply and demand. The sweet potato market maintained strong, high levels throughout the period, as did the chilli peppers market, with multiple origins involved. Conversely, the plantain banana market, after kicking off the year with some improvement, saw a more turbulent period with the occasional leaps in the supply. 

Sweet potato

The sweet potato market strengthened in Q1 2021, after a fairly quiet end of the year. White-fleshed sweet potatoes were supplied mainly by Egypt, Brazil and Honduras. The latter origin, better known for its orange-fleshed sweet potato shipments, stepped up its white-fleshed tuber exports. With its trading campaign opening in February, Honduras took position in a high-quality segment, going by the price levels charged. Egyptian volumes were apparently smaller this year, which helped rates hold up better, especially in February and March, when they exceeded the €1.00/kg threshold, rarely breached during the previous period. Meanwhile, Brazilian sweet potato prices remained stable during Q1 2021.

The orange-fleshed sweet potato market was more diverse. Egypt continued its shipments to Europe until mid-February, with prices over €1.00/kg observed in the previous quarter. The value earned by this produce owed much to its improved quality and its packaging. Furthermore, the supply provided by Spain, Guatemala and Honduras covered demand, with suitable quantities. In this context, the market conditions held firm, with prices rising slightly throughout this quarter. This supply was topped up by Portugal, which obtained €1.20-€1.30/kg at the beginning of the period, according to market developments, and up to €1.40-€1.50/kg in the second half of March.  

   

sweet potato - france - wholesale price

    

Yam

The yam market was quiet and steady during Q1 2021. The bulk of the supply was based on Ghanaian shipments, with white and Puna yams. The market was balanced, with steady rates - though they were slightly higher for the scarcer Puna variety. The dip in Cuscus yam shipments from Brazil in the middle of the period meant prices being revised. The smaller presence of Brazilian produced favoured the emergence, in March, of a flow from Colombia. The tubers from this origin sold at slightly lower prices, for the same type of product. Finally, the French trading campaign continued in Q1 2021, after its launch in November 2020. The sale prices agreed were unchanged throughout the period in question, at between €3.30 and €3.50/kg. 

    

yam - france - wholesale price

  

Eddoe

Costa Rican eddoes enjoyed a balanced market throughout Q1 2021, with stable and steady prices. However, some price variations could be observed due to more or less stable qualities, and occasional size differences. 

   

eddoe - france - wholesale price

  

Cassava

Costa Rican cassava prices continued to follow the market conditions from December 2020. They stabilised at between €1.10 and €1.20/kg throughout Q1 2021. Demand remained quiet during this period.

   

cassava - france - wholesale price

  

Ginger

In early January, demand was dwindling in the face of the combined shipments from China and Brazil. Rates for Chinese produce took a gradual and continuous downturn. The trend continued during the quarter, due to the uneven quality of merchandise supplied. Simultaneously, the Brazilian supply by contrast was dwindling, with air-freight shipments replacing sea-freight shipments. This explained the uptick in prices for this origin. At the end of the period, the market also received ginger from Thailand, which sold on the same price footing as Chinese produce. The accentuated fall in Chinese ginger prices at the end of March was due to the differing degrees of quality of the produce.

   

ginger - france - wholesale price

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