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Roots & Tubers review: Q1 2022

Published on 13/04/2022 - Published by GERBAUD Pierre
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The ethnic products market remained stable in Q1 2022. Supply levels were sometimes limited by sea-freight capacity problems out of certain origins, or at certain periods. Shipping delays and congestion of European ports also contributed to staccato shipments, which disrupted sales of certain merchandise. Plantain bananas and chilli peppers were the products most sensitive to these supply fluctuations, for different reasons. Sweet potatoes saw a rather favourable period in terms of sales.

Informations

Product(s) : dasheen , Eddoe , Ginger , Yam , Cassava , Sweet Potato
Rubrique / Thématique : Review and Forecasts
Country : Brazil , China , Costa rica , Egypt , Spain , France , Ghana , Honduras , Peru , Thailand
Keywords : Export , Import , Price , Production

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Sweet potato

The white-fleshed sweet potato market had a steady Q1 2022. The supply from Egypt seems to have been restrained, going by the stable prices above the €1.00/kg threshold. These volumes were topped up by more modest shipments from Brazil and Honduras, whose sale prices were situated at a higher level (€1.60/kg on average).

The orange-fleshed sweet potato market was more diversified. Egypt remained in place throughout the quarter, providing a more limited supply which helped prices hold up, with some sales at even stronger prices in March. The Egyptian produce was topped up by Spanish and Honduran tubers, which sold at higher prices. Spain supplied bigger quantities than Honduras, in the face of limited sea-freight capacities.

Yam

There was a steady, high market for Ghanaian and Brazilian yams. Overall, the supply covered the moderate demand. The French-produced yam trading campaign continued, with prices unchanged throughout the period.

Eddoe

Both prices and the market were stable for Costa Rican eddoes, albeit with a distinct price rise from mid-March. This change was attributable to the fall in the Costa Rican supply. The lack of sea-freight container capacity led to modified loading schedules at the origin. The vast range of products exported from Costa Rica forced the exporters to make choices, under pressure in particular from pineapple and melon shippers.

Cassava

Costa Rican cassava prices fluctuated according to the magnitude of incoming shipments. During a lean January, shipments sold at high prices (€1.50/kg). In late January-early February, the Costa Rican cassava rate gradually ebbed, reaching its lowest point in mid-February. Prices recovered thereafter, though without returning to their initial level. From mid-February to late March, cassava rates varied by €0.05 to 0.10/kg, according to the sizes of the produce available.

Dasheen

The dasheen market was particularly balanced throughout Q1 2022. The sea-freight produce from Saint Vincent sold at a constant level of around €3.50/kg on average. At the end of the period, some batch leftovers exhibiting deteriorated quality were sold off at low prices (€1.50/kg), which were not representative of sales as a whole. Air-freight dasheens from Martinique, shipped in small quantities, sold at a constant price, with the supply just covering the demand.

Ginger

The market was balanced in Q1 2022. Over the first two months of the period, Brazil remained the biggest supplier in terms of volume. Simultaneously, the new Chinese ginger harvest was being placed, but its higher price encouraged operators to continue to procure Brazilian produce, which exhibited more regular quality but in falling quantities. Chinese produce was then trading at lower prices for the leftovers of the old harvest. At the end of the period, procurement from China increased, as Brazilian produce gradually disappeared. Ginger rates underwent a turnaround as Chinese merchandise became predominant. The supply was topped up by some batches of Peruvian ginger, trading at lower prices (€1.70/kg). Some batches from Thailand appeared at the very end of the period, available on a footing of €1.80/kg.