The supply of Spanish products is clearly increasing, but demand is not yet sweeping goods out of importers' hands. "I had expected demand to pick up, but nothing could be further from the truth. It is not even that there is an enormous volume on the market, although we certainly are not facing shortages either, but overall it is a very subdued and cautious market," says Pieter de Ruiter of 4Fruit Company in Ridderkerk.
© 4 Fruit Company
"For example, pepper prices rose in Spain last week and were still reasonably well paid until last Thursday, but now customers seem to have little appetite. Prices are around 16-17 euros for red peppers and 14-15 euros for green peppers. Supply is not excessively high, but transport issues are affecting quality, and no one dares to build stock, especially at these price levels."
© 4 Fruit Company
"But across the vegetable category, prices are moderate. Cucumbers are selling for 10-11 euros, but customers are not enthusiastic about that either, and sales of tomatoes, aubergines, and courgettes are also fairly lacklustre," Pieter says.
© 4 Fruit Company
"And in citrus, we see the same story. Mandarins should be fetching 15-16 euros, but despite the colder weather, sales have not picked up yet. I had expected a product like persimmons to perform better at this time, but they are not gaining momentum either. For a 7 kg box, prices are between 9.50 and 10 euros, but customers are not lining up for those either."
© 4 Fruit Company
"Lemons from Spain are expensive, with prices around 25-26 euros, although they are not being snapped up either. Looking at overseas fruit, sales of yellow melons are very slow. The same applies to watermelons, although that is still understandable with the cold weather. A notable exception is Peruvian grapes, which are fetching strong prices of 30 euros or more for 8.2 kilos."
© 4 Fruit Company
For more information:
Pieter de Ruiter
4 Fruit Company
Handelsweg 30
2988 DB Ridderkerk
+31 (0) 180 641902
[email protected]
www.4fruitcompany.nl
