The past week the average national potato price decreased to R59.65 per 10kg with volumes 11% lower. The large potato price traded on R65.57, mediums on R57.30 and smalls on R42.95 per 10kg. Mondials traded lower on R59.39, Sifras on R62.33 and Lanormas on R57.40 with the average price on Joburg on R57.83 per 10kg last week. I looked at years that we had a similar price trend compared to this year and saw a 70% correlation with the 2017 and 2020 years thus far. However, towards the latter part of 2020, covid played a significant role in demand and we therefore excluded this year from this analysis. So, if we take the 2017 production season’s price trend, which was about 46% lower, we can expect prices to remain at around the R50 per 10kg mark until the end of August, but then possibly start to increase reaching a peak in October at around the R90 mark. So, expect prices to be in an upward trend over the second part of this year. It’s really not to say we will follow this trend for the rest of the year, but it is interesting to note.
The tomato price decreased by 31% the past week to R7.16 per kilogram with volumes increasing by 17%. Large tomatoes traded lower on R6.95, Mediums lower on R7.28 while small also decreased to R6.51. We saw a similar price trend in 2021 with the average price trading about 11% lower compared to this year thus far. If a similar trend is realised for the rest of this year, we can see prices remaining on a lower level until the end of September. We can then see higher prices in October and December again.
The average carrot price decreased by 12% last week to R5.20 per kilogram while large carrots traded on R6.00, mediums on R4.25 and smalls on R4.83. As mentioned last week we are expecting significantly lower prices now with the average price that can decrease to the R4 per kilogram mark and possibly stay there for the remainder of June and July.
The average onion price increased to R99.94 per 10kg with brown onion prices increasing to R99, red onions jumped to R194 and white onions on R102 per 10kg. All sizes also increased with large onions on R93, mediums on R104 and smalls on R87 per 10kg. At the moment we are seeing an 89% correlation in price movements with the 2019 production season with prices that are now about 46% higher on average. Assuming we will continue to follow the trend set in 2019, we can expect prices to stay on this higher level over the next three weeks, but then start the decrease. We might see slightly better prices in October again, but the general trend is expected to be lower.
The average pepper price decreased to R8.83 per kilogram while green pepper prices increased to R6.93, yellow peppers decreased to R12.45 while Red peppers traded 6% lower on R11.34 per kilogram. It looks like the average price can stay on a lower level for the remainder of this month, but we can possibly see significantly better prices during July and August.
Looking at other market prices, Cabbage prices decreased to R3.08 while Garlic prices increased by 6% to R101.97 which is 62% higher than a year ago.
Spinach prices increased to R5.86 while sweet potatoes decreased to R5.19 per kilogram. The latest pumpkin price decreased to R2.61 per kilogram last week.
