Christmas time is apple time. Not least because of the great diversity of varieties and the consistently first-class quality, domestic products are very well received by the consumer. Whether they come in Nikolosackerl, as a baked apple or as a Christmas tree decoration, apples were used in many households for Christmas purposes. But even the overall good holidays' sales were too weak to sustainably bring relief on the market.
Commodity pressure remains high both nationally and from neighboring countries. Throughout Europe, the market remains extremely tense. The stored quantities of dessert apples have dropped by 122.550 tons, as of 1 November. Large quantities are likely to have flowed into processing instead of the fresh market in 2018.
Nationwide, the Agrarmarkt Austria inventory of dessert apples KLI I had declined by 8,480 tons to approx. 14,080 tons in December, and if one follows the figures, sales are some 1,000 tons higher this year than in the corresponding period last year.
Carrot market balanced out before holidays
The Lower Austrian carrot market was largely balanced out in December. A demand-oriented supply met with satisfactory domestic demand. The prices for carrots packed in a 5 kg container from the ramp were unaffected by the Christmas business and remained stable at December's average of 42.50 EUR per ton, unchanged from the previous month. Exports could only be managed peripherally.
Another month with price changes for Lower Austrian onions. The producer price for loose bulbs, sorted into crates at the beginning of December was at a strong 32-36 EUR per ton. Of course, the Christmas holidays did not detract from the price movements. Demand was unbroken despite limited availability and more price corrections were done by the marketers in the course of the month.
In the third week of December, according to the Lower Austrian Chamber of Agriculture, producer prices rose to 36-40 EUR per ton, a whopping 170% above last year levels. Due to constant demand from export markets, domestic customers are forced to go with these prices.