“We're getting an extra two Euro per box on the local market,” said Yitzhak Carmy of Carmy Export. “It's difficult to get that from the export market in Europe.” He noted that while he can get about nine Euro per box of organic sweet potatoes in Europe, a conventional box is going for about six Euro. For that reason, he's only shipping conventional product to the United Kingdom, where prices of around six pounds per box make shipments profitable. The only sweet potatoes he exports to Europe have been organic.
“Holland is asking for more organic product, also,” said Carmy. “They are not getting enough organic sweet potatoes from Egypt or Honduras, so we can be more effective in that market.” While there's no shortage of conventional sweet potatoes from Egypt, Carmy believes the superior quality of Israeli sweet potatoes gives him an advantage, even if Israeli shippers can't compete with Egyptian shippers on price.
While export volumes bounced back last season, currency fluctuations have brought complications. Carmy also competes with sweet potatoes from North Carolina, but he believes that the rising dollar will keep more American product in North America. But that's similar to what's going on with Israeli shippers, who are diverting more of their product to the domestic market because of a strong shekel.
The export season for potatoes is also starting up, and though quantities and sizes look good this year, it's unclear how the market will shape up. As with sweet potatoes, currency issues will dictate how much product is exported. Though Russia could take big volumes this year, shipments will depend on how much the local currency there will allow importers to take.
For more information:
Yitzhak Carmy
Carmy Export
Yitzhak@carmy-export.com