Turnover VBT auctions per sector - 2012-2017
BelOrta closed 2017 with a product turnover of € 420.7 million, which meant and increase of 5% compared to 2016 and 7% compared to 2015. The turnover of vegetables was in the same line in 2017 as in 2016. The main product at BelOrta, tomatoes, had 6% more supply in 2017 compared to 2017 for a better price (+5%) which resulted in an increase in turnover of 11%. The turnover of chicory and cucumbers on the other hands, decreased by almost 5% and over 31% respectively.
Both products had around 4% less supply in 2017 compared to 2016. Chicory was sold for a mostly comparable price in 2017, whilst the price of cucumbers was low all year compared to 2016 due to an oversupply in Europe. The higher average price of lettuce (+8%) compensated for the lower supply (-7%) in 2017 which lead to a comparable turnover to 2016. The turnover of peppers rose in 2017 by almost 8% compared to 2016. The higher supply (+27%) due to an increase in the area managed to turn the decrease in the average price (-15%) into a rise in turnover.
The price was partially under pressure due to a large European area expansion (predominantly in Spain and the Netherlands). The turnover of fruit rose by 20% in 2017 compared to 2016. The expansion in area of both top fruit and strawberries meant that the share of fruit within auction rose to 25%. The welcome better price formation in 2017 of top fruit resulted in an increase in turnover of 34%. In strawberries the high supply positively influences the turnover (+13%). As the largest auction for berries BelOrta also managed to realise an increase in turnover here of 13% in 2017.
Cooperation Hoogstraten also continued to evolve in a straight line in 2017. With a product turnover of € 232.1 million an increase of 6% compared to 2016 was noted and an increase of 8% compared to 2015. In tomatoes the turnover increase of almost 21% can be attributed to the higher supply (+7%) combined with the more favourable price formation (+13%). The average price of peppers on the other hand, were almost 14% lower in 2017 than in 2016 and resulted in a decrease in turnover of 14% due to the supply being similar to that of the previous year. In strawberries the increase volume, along with the good price formation (with the exception of the prices in the autumn) meant that Cooperation Hoogstraten, as the largest soft fruit auction, had a rise in turnover of almost 3%.
The REO Veiling noted a product turnover of € 175.3 million in 2017 which is a light decrease in turnover of 1% compared to 2016, but an increase in turnover of 6% compared to 2015. In tomatoes the better average price (+7%) was able to compensate the decrease in supply (-5%) with a light increase in turnover (+1%) as a result. As the largest leek auction the REO Veiling had to deal with a difficult price formation in the second half of the year. Thanks to the good prices in the first months the decrease in turnover was limited to 3% despite the lower volume (-7%). In lettuce the better average price turned the lower supply into an increase in turnover (+4%). Mushrooms and chicory, on the other hand, had less supply in 2017 compared to 2016 along with a slightly lower price resulting in a decrease in turnover. The supply of strawberries rose strongly in 2017 (+18%) due to the growing area. This makes strawberries the third most important product on the auction in 2017.
The Belgische Fruitveiling had, after three consecutive years with a similar turnover, an increase in turnover of almost 11% in 2017. The product turnover was € 103.9 million and once again surpasses the cap of 100 million. The turnover of pears increased in 2017 by 16% compared to 2016. In 2017 less pears were supplied (-11%) for a better price (+31%) than in 2016. The production of apples was heavily affected by the late spring night frost with a decreased supply of 38% as a result. The welcome favourable prices during the second half of the year caused a similar apple turnover in 2017 as in 2016. The strawberry season was varied, but the increased supply was able to make up for the lower average price with an increase in turnover of almost 10% as a result. Bad weather conditions lead to a strongly decreased volume for cherries and resulted in a decrease in turnover of 4%. Despite the weather woes resulting in a lower supply the berries had a favourable year and the turnover was over a quarter higher than in 2016.
The Limburgse Tuinbouwveiling realised a product turnover of over €11.3 million in 2017 which means a strong increase in turnover of 55% compared to 2016 and 64% compared to 2015. Almost 85% of the total product turnover was realised by fruit. Despite the lower supply of top fruit in 2017 the turnover of pears rose by 36% and that of apple by 39%. Strawberries had an increase in turnover of 63% as a result of a strongly increased turnover (+69%). The smaller share of vegetables mainly concerns lettuce.
The Walloon strawberry auction Criée de Wépion realised a product turnover of over € 830,000 in 2017. This is a decrease in turnover of 14% compared to 2016 and almost a reduction of half compared to 2015.
Besides the classic auctions Ingro, a producers organisation for industry vegetable growers, is also a member of the VBT. Ingro closed 2017 with a Sold Production Value of €97.5 million. The cultivation conditions in 2017 were difficult on the one hand in the spring due to the drought, but on the other hand favourable in the autumn. This resulted in the highest turnover since its founding 13 years ago. The main products are still cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, leek, beans and carrots.
