Beetroot may become costly in Poland.

The beginning of December did not bring any changes in the situation on the Polish wholesale market of beetroot. Demand for these vegetables remains weak, so that even with lower stocks after a weak harvest, prices are not impressive. Since the beginning of October, in terms of sales in a large wholesale, this is usually 0,12- 0,14 EUR/kg for washed beet, packed in bags.

As you can see, the average price from the current season is still far from the record-breaking levels from the end of 2013 or even from 2010, when the first wave of rising prices of these vegetables began at the beginning of December. The second, much stronger one, came in March and amounted to beet prices above 0,50 EUR per kilogram.

Perhaps, however, there is a chance to repeat the situation from the 2010/2011 season. At that time, this "price explosion" was generated by a huge demand from Ukraine, because there were simply no beetroots. A similar possibility can be seen nowadays. The beet harvest this year was very poor in Ukraine. Until now, however, buyers have limited their interest. But in the last week this has changed quite radically. Demand has risen very strongly, with prices behind it. Last week, Ukrainian beet producers were paid about 0,13 EUR/kg per beetroot, i.e. at a similar level as in Poland. Now prices are in the range of 0,18 - 0,22 EUR/kg! And this is not the end of the increase.

If the trend is maintained until the end of the year, and then still active in winter or even in spring 2019, the prices will be so high there again that a large export of beet from Poland will start, and this will drive up prices in Poland as well.