Every year it is guessing what the export of white cabbage will do, says Jan Bakker of Bakker AGF. “The export can change the situation drastically. At this moment, there is no demand from Eastern Europe. This is our most important sales market, so it is a hot-button issue if, and when, the trade will go swifter. Some forecasts have been produced, but we will just have to see in the months of January and February. Only at the end of March – April, there will be more clarity about the export market.”
For the domestic market, white cabbages are sold every day. The prices are barely covering the costs (ca. 15 to 16 cents). Jan: “The cabbages come from storage, so there is not a lot left for the producer. The later produced cabbage has to get at least 25 cents, otherwise the producers will have a very bad year. The price has been made for red cabbage, those are about 35 cents. However, this is for smaller volumes, a quarter to a third of the white cabbage volume. Much of the red cabbage is for consumption in the Netherlands and Germany. The rest is sold to various other countries.”
There are more positive messages from the pointed cabbage market. “The Dutch pointed cabbage is almost through. We will shortly switch to Egyptian pointed cabbage. The large retail businesses mainly demand sealed pointed cabbages, that is a big plus. The producers were able to make some good money.”