Low price trends include onions (-31.64%), potatoes (-23.67), tomatoes (-19.25%), lettuce (-16.94%) and carrots (-15.50%)
Conab (National Supply Company) released this week a trend of low prices for all vegetables analyzed in August: lettuce, potatoes, onions, carrots and tomatoes. The information is contained in the 9th Prohort Bulletin (Brazilian Horticultural Market Modernization Program), which collected data from Ceasas (Supply Centers) across the country.
Still according to the bulletin, onions were the vegetable that became cheaper: prices fell in all Ceasas. The weighted average decreased 31.64% compared to July. The drop percentages were more pronounced in Ceasas de São José (SC), which registered -45.30%, and Recife (PE), with a -39.41% decrease.
The reason may have been the growing supply and the origin of the bulb in several producing areas, notably due to shipments made from Bahia, Pernambuco, Goiás and São Paulo. Minas Gerais also sent a significant volume to the markets, although below that observed in July.
Potatoes also followed the list of the most affordable, once again showing a downward trend in prices. In August, the weighted average fell 23.67%. The persistence of the large quantity offered in Ceasas explains this movement. It should be noted that, in July, supply had already increased by around 5%. In the year to date, however, the quantities of potatoes moved in Ceasas are 6% lower compared to the same period in 2023.
SALAD
Tomatoes, lettuce and carrots, although with lower rates, also decreased in the weighted average by -19.25%, -16.94% and -15.50%, respectively. In the case of tomatoes, the average price has been falling since June/July, with a very fragmented supply, originating in several states.
For lettuce, the decrease was in almost all Ceasas analyzed in the bulletin, with the exception of Ceasa in Rio de Janeiro, which showed an increase of just 1.65%, and Ceasa in Goiás, which shows absolute price stability for this vegetable, no variation with the previous month.
As for carrots, due to the abundant supply and satisfactory production in most producing areas, there was no demand pressure on the supply in Minas Gerais, the main supplier of the market, which kept the product’s prices low.
FRUITS
Contrary to the prices for the month of July and the trend observed in vegetables, fruits rose in the month of August in the Ceasas analyzed, especially papaya, bananas, oranges and apples.
Watermelon was the only fruit analyzed that showed a drop in the weighted average, with price fluctuations and an increase in supply in most supply centers, such as Ceasas do Sudeste, which traditionally receive a lot of fruit originating from Ceres, in Goiás, and also of squares in Tocantins.
Prices started the month low and grew as demand increased due to the rise in heat. Exports started the 2024/25 season well, and should be positive due to good external demand.
Papaya was the fruit with the greatest fluctuation among the products analyzed, with an increase of 48.90% in the weighted average price, with emphasis on Ceasas de Vitória/ES (+122.56%) and Ceagesp/SP (+81. 48%), where the average prices recorded were R$5.49 and R$5.20 per kilo, respectively.
For bananas, the increase was due to the drought in the north of Minas Gerais and Bahia, in addition to thermal stress in the South Region, which greatly affected the production of dwarf bananas. The forecast is that supply in the markets should improve at the end of the year.
As for oranges, the high level of allocation for milling, in a context of restricted supply of the fruit, caused prices to rise in the industry, which ended up pushing prices up in wholesale and retail markets as well, with good consumer demand due to of the heat.
The harvest of late varieties should begin in September, many of which are already committed due to contracts with the industry. Brazilian exports of orange juice fell, due to the reduction in supply of the fruit.
Apple sales fell and prices increased, in a context of crop failure in the South. With the control of the cold chambers by the classifiers and the increase in demand in the first 2 thirds of the month, mainly with the return to school, prices they went up. Exports remained low, due to the low volume of the current harvest, and imports were quite strong, causing concern among producers by putting pressure on their sales prices.
HIGHLIGHTS
The Ceasas Highlights section also covered the Regional Meeting of Wholesale Markets in Latin America and the Caribbean, in Santiago, Chile, from September 3rd to 4th. The event was organized by Flama (Latin American Federation of Supply Markets) and FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations), with the participation of 7 countries, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Paraguay and Uruguay .
In addition to Conab, CeasaMinas, Ceasa Paraná, Ceasa Santa Catarina and Ceasa Rio Grande do Sul represented Brazil. Another highlight of the bulletin addresses how prolonged drought and other weather conditions affect the sale of fruits and vegetables at supply centers Brazilians.
The statistical data from the Conab Prohort Bulletin are collected at Supply Centers located in São Paulo (SP), Belo Horizonte (MG), Rio de Janeiro (RJ), Vitória (ES), São José (SC), Goiânia (GO) , Recife (PE), Fortaleza (CE) and Rio Branco (AC). The units, together, sell a large part of the vegetables consumed by the Brazilian population. The complete analyzes can be accessed in the 9th Hortigranjeiro Bulletin September 2024, available on the Conab portal.
With information from Gov Agency.
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