Vegetables Category Intelligence
Report Coverage
- Potatoes - Global Supply Analysis
- Lettuce - Pricing Analysis
- Cost Structure Analysis – Tomatoes
- Onions - Global Trade Dynamics
Vegetables Market Trends
Category Intelligence on Vegetables covers the following
- Information relating to market, supply, cost, and pricing analysis
- Hard to find data on cost and TCO models, supplier details, and performance benchmarks
- Macroeconomic and regional trends impacting cost, supply, and other market dynamics
- Category-specific negotiation and sourcing advice
Industry Outlook & Drivers
Vegetables-Procurement Insights based on Seasonality
Prices can be expected to be the lowest during harvest and post-harvest periods and higher during off-season. Ideally buyers could capitalize the low price periods and procure a higher share of their raw materials requirement and secure contracts that ensure a steady supply throughout the year. Bulk buying would incur additional costs like cold storage and inventory maintenance and spoilage losses. The buyer should also anticipate the surge in demand during the harvest periods, which could push prices up slightly and plan their procurement strategy accordingly.
Potatoes - Global Supply Analysis
- The overall potato production is anticipated to witness a dip in 2018, supported by loss, due to drought in major producing regions, like India, which brought down supply estimates significantly. Additionally, loss, due to heatwaves, across Europe is causing a steep decline by about 20 – 25 percent in output of potatoes from these regions
- 2017 potato production was estimated to witness an overall favorable trend with improved supplies anticipated from the top producing regions, like US, India, and Europe
- Potato growers in US, reduced acreage by around 8 percent since 2014, in an attempt to improve market prices, which dipped steeply owing to surplus production of potatoes, proving unprofitable for growers
- Processing potatoes, which account for about 12 – 15 percent of production is expected to display the fastest demand growth, particularly the frozen fries sector. Fresh potato consumption is estimated to gradually decline in the long term
- A rise in demand for starch potatoes can be expected to increase post the removal of the EU sugar quota in 2017, with an expected increase in production of starch-based sweeteners
Potatoes - Global Trade Dynamics
- The recent deal between China and the UK for exports of seed potatoes to Europe indicates China's attempts to diversify secure and strengthen trade relations, owing to the US – China trade conflict and re-route trade channels for agricultural products to other markets
- Mexico's tariff of 75 percent on the US potatoes post the NAFTA renegotiation is likely to lower potato exports from the US significantly in the coming year
- China does not allow imports of fresh potatoes, owing to SPS (Sanitary and Phytosanitary) concerns
- The removal of MEP (Minimum Export Price) of $360/ton in December 2016 boosted exports. India contributes to only about 1 percent of global exports in spite of being the second largest producer
- Netherlands and Belgium are the leading importers of potatoes globally. More than 65 percent of the imports are consumed by the processing sector
- Malaysia, Russia, Vietnam, and Pakistan account for about 62 –65 percent of China's exports. The major export destinations of the US potatoes are Canada, Mexico, Japan, and Taiwan
Lettuce - Global Supply Analysis
- Overall supplies in major growing regions are witnessing a dip in supplies, owing to unfavorable weather. In line with increasing loss in vegetable output, due to heatwaves across Europe, the lettuce supplies and quality have taken a significant hit, causing a firm market
- Despite low supplies, a dip in demand, due to and E. Coli breakout in Romaine lettuce is likely to maintain a weak market, lowering grower returns considerably
- The beginning of 2017, had a higher demand than supply, owing to impact of heavy rains in major growing regions like the EU and drought in parts of the US
- March – April 2017 witnessed a surplus production, leading to a price crash and top exporters like Spain destroyed more than 50 percent of the produce, owing to unprofitable market
- As of September 2017, supply and demand has been stable and is expected to remain so in the upcoming year, if good growing conditions prevail
- Given the vulnerability of lettuce growing, an increasing number of indoor lettuce farming practices are being adopted by progressive farmers, which could boost production significantly in the upcoming years, ensuring a well-supplied market
