The fresh produce sector definitely felt Monday's national strike in Belgium. It was extremely quiet at the import centre in Brussels (ECFG), but trade has fully resumed again. According to Peter Maes of Zeghers, it could almost be called a holiday, but not in the positive sense. "There just wasn't any trade, but every importer was there, apart from Univeg. The hall stayed quiet and calm. A few people entered the market, but perhaps 10-20% of the normal volumes. Yesterday it was a bit better, but we can't say we made up for Monday, far from it. It's a lost day: we unloaded, and that's it. The customers who were there, left quickly, because nobody knew what would happen."
Loss
William Willems of Central Fruit also rues the fact that Monday was so disappointing. "Yesterday, saw no problems, fortunately, the customers returned. It was a normal, even slightly better, Tuesday, but unfortunately you've still lost Monday, it's that simple. We were present, but with skeleton staff, and fewer arrivals. It is very much a loss. You can't make up for that day. It would be better if something like that didn't happen again."