The past week the average national potato price increased to R78.96 per 10kg with volumes 17% lower week on week. The large potato price traded higher on R86, mediums on R76 and smalls on R63 per 10kg. Mondials traded higher on R80, Sifras higher on R82 and Lanormas on R75 with the average price on Joburg on R79.28 per 10kg last week.
We’ve been hovering just below the R80 mark for the past three weeks now and I think that as soon as the price move above these levels that we can see a significant price spike soon.
The tomato price increased by 12% the past week to R10.44 per kilogram with volumes decreasing by 10%. Large tomatoes traded on R12.33, Mediums on R10.72 while smalls stayed sideways on R8.41. We are expecting lower prices this week due to lower expected demand, but it also looks like the price can stay above the R10 mark during September.
The average carrot price increased by 22% to R5.19 per kilogram while volumes decreased by 21% week on week. Large carrots traded on R5.50, mediums higher on R4.64 and smalls higher on R3.44 per kilogram. We can see higher carrot prices for the remainder of this month with prices likely to stay above R5. However, expect volumes to pick up in September and October which will most likely keep this market under pressure then.
The average onion price remained in its downward trend, decreasing by 2% to R59.76 per 10kg with brown onion prices on R56, red onions decreased to R135 while white onion prices decreased to R58 per 10kg. The average large onion price traded on R57, mediums on R65 and smalls lower on R44 per 10kg. I still think we can follow a similar trend as last year when onion prices came from higher levels in May and June and then continued to decrease towards the end of the year. I therefore think we can move below the R50 mark next month and then stay on a lower level until December.
The average pepper price decreased to R17.28 per kilogram while green pepper prices decreased to R13.46, yellow peppers decreased by 23% to R13.60 while Red peppers traded 10% lower on R34.89 per kilogram. It looks like the average price can get support as we head towards the end of the month and demand improves.
We had some requests to delve deeper into the other vegetables as well and give some forecasts as well. So here goes:
The average cabbage price increased by 20% to R4.50 but I think that this price will start to trend downward from here on out with the average price likely to trade below R3 again towards the end of the year.
Garlic prices decreased further to R94 per kilogram and is also likely to stay in its downward trend for the rest of this year due to higher expected volumes. The spinach price decreased by 8% last week to R4.82 due to higher volumes. Traditionally we see significantly lower spinach prices from September to December due to higher volumes on the markets.
Sweet potatoes decreased to R8.25 per kilogram and will likely follow potato prices higher over the next few weeks. But expect this price to stay high during October and November and most likely also reach record levels. The average pumpkin price decreased to R2.91 last week and will most likely also trade higher in September and October but start to decrease in November again as more volumes can enter into the markets.
