Although there's currently an oversupply of sweet potatoes in the European market, the production of one exporter's Egyptian sweet potatoes is actually lower than last year, says Eman Mardini, Deputy CEO of Egyptian fresh produce exporter El Eman Trading: "This season, our Egyptian sweet potato production is lower than it was last year. This is mainly due to the acreage shrinking, as growers have seen lower prices last season and immediately tried to cut down on the sweet potatoes for the new season. Cultivation itself was quite okay, as there was no significant effect from the weather on the sweet potatoes this season."
© El Eman
Demand is a little slower in the European market, but El Eman Trading will still have its focus on the European markets. "During the start of the season, there was good demand for sweet potatoes. However, there was a rather high supply available in the European market. So the export to Europe is currently a bit slower than usual. Egyptian sweet potatoes have enjoyed a good reputation for the last three years, thanks to both the high quality and competitive prices. Our main markets are the Netherlands, Spain, Poland, Germany, and the UK. We are planning to extend our presence in the Russian market, especially for retailers."
The oversupply of sweet potatoes has resulted in prices decreasing as the season went on: "This year, the prices for sweet potatoes aren't too clear, but the selling prices in Europe sit around €4 per box, and they have decreased because of the oversupply compared to previous years. The season should be stable if we balance the demand and supply, especially in the European market. Which is why we advise the Egyptian exporter to keep the balance and not flood the market with all of the sweet potatoes, leading to constant oversupply," Mardini concludes.
For more information:
Eman Mardini
El Eman Trading
Tel: +20 100 054 4120
[email protected]
www.elemantrading.com