TZOB/Bayraktar: The Highest Price Increase of 179.1% in 2024 Observed in White Cabbage

Forex - Producer Market Prices for December 2024

Monthly and yearly input price changes

The President of the Turkish Union of Agricultural Chambers (TZOB), Şemsi Bayraktar, evaluated the producer market prices for December 2024 and the changes in input prices during a video press conference. Bayraktar stated that, as in previous years, they assessed the price differences between producers and markets based on data collected through Agricultural Chambers from across the country. He continued, “As a result of our evaluations; in 2024, 40 out of 41 monitored products in the market saw price increases, and only 1 product saw a price decrease. The product with the highest price increase in the market was white cabbage, while mandarin recorded the highest increase at the producer level. The product with the most significant price decrease, both in the market and at the producer level, was potatoes.

Compared to last year, the largest price increase in the market observed this year was 179.1% for white cabbage. This was followed by mandarins at 135%, eggplant and leek at 115.2%, and lemons at 98.5%. The product that saw the largest price decrease in the market this year, compared to last year, was potatoes, with a decrease of 16%.

In 2024, among the 33 monitored products at the producer level, prices increased in 29 products while 4 products experienced price decreases. This year, the most significant price increase at the producer level was observed in mandarins at 276.5%. This was followed by cauliflower at 270.4%, white cabbage at 166.2%, and leek at 153%. The product that saw the most substantial price decrease compared to last year at the producer level was potatoes, with a decline of 59.8%. This decrease in potato prices was followed by olive oil at 20.7%, pistachios at 9.4%, and dried apricots at 3.6%.

This year, there was a 21.1% increase in potato production. This increase in production led to the annual producer prices for potatoes being lower than last year's. An increase in the availability of olive oil, pistachios, and dried apricots also caused their prices to fall below last year's levels.”

December Producer-Market Price Changes

“In December, the largest price difference between producers and the market was recorded for lemons at 312.3%. The price difference for lemons was followed by potatoes at 300.8%, oranges at 270%, and carrots at 237.2%. Lemons were sold in the market at 4.1 times the producer price, potatoes at 4 times, oranges at 3.7 times, and carrots at 3.4 times. Lemons, which were priced at 7 lira at the producer level, were sold at 30 lira in the market; potatoes, which cost 4 lira, sold for 18 lira; oranges priced at 10 lira were sold for 37 lira; and carrots, which cost 11 lira, sold for 37 lira.

In December, the product that saw the highest increase in price was white cabbage in the market and eggplant at the producer level, while the product that saw the most considerable decrease in price was cauliflower in the market and potatoes at the producer level.”

Market Prices

“In December, there was a price increase in 24 out of 41 products in the market, while 17 products experienced price decreases. The highest price increase recorded in December in the market was for white cabbage at 75.6%. This was followed by eggplant at 43%, green onions at 30.2%, and lettuce at 16.6%. The product with the greatest price decrease in the market was cauliflower at 35.5%, followed by tomatoes at 13.6%, bell peppers at 7.6%, and zucchini at 6.3%.”

Producer Prices

“In December, there was a price increase in 15 out of 33 monitored products at the producer level, while 9 products saw price decreases, and there were no changes in 9 products. The most substantial price decrease at the producer level in December was 27.9% for potatoes. This was followed by oranges at 25.3%, lemons at 11.2%, and mandarins at 11.1%. The most significant price increase at the producer level was observed for eggplant at 89.2%, followed by green onions at 44.5%, white cabbage at 42.3%, and cauliflower at 31.6%.”

Reasons for Changes in Producer Prices

“The increase in eggplant prices at the producer level is due to a decrease in product availability. The drop in supply and rise in demand have also caused price increases for green onions, white cabbage, and cauliflower. During the winter period, reduced yields per unit area in greenhouse production, last year’s low producer prices for winter vegetables, and rising costs have squeezed production areas. Natural disasters in coastal areas where greenhouse farming is prevalent and regions with dense planting of winter vegetables have negatively impacted production, leading to increases in producer prices.

This year, the high yield of potatoes has caused an increase in supply, resulting in price drops. The harvest of Ödemiş potatoes has begun; however, traders are not purchasing the product. The same situation is observed in Nevşehir and Niğde, leading potato producers to request that the state purchase their excess potatoes before they spoil, due to this year’s high yield. The Agricultural Credit and the Grain Board should step in to facilitate direct purchases from producers.

Producers are struggling to find buyers for dry onions, leading to price declines due to lack of trading. In lemons, oranges, and mandarins, early varieties paired with new season storage products have caused producer prices to drop. Currently, due to weak demand for lemons, our producers are having difficulty selling their products, leaving early varieties on the tree.”

Changes in Monthly and Yearly Input Prices for December

“According to price data obtained from input markets through our Agricultural Chambers; in December, compared to November, ammonium nitrate increased by 12.3%, urea fertilizer by 9.2%, DAP fertilizer by 2.7%, 20.20.0 compound fertilizer by 2.6%, and ammonium sulfate fertilizer by 1.8%.

Compared to December of last year, in the last year, ammonium sulfate fertilizer has increased by 35.2%, DAP fertilizer by 29%, urea fertilizer by 28.6%, ammonium nitrate by 27.7%, and 20.20.0 compound fertilizer by 19.5%.

In December, compared to November, milk feed increased by 1.8%, fattening feed by 1.6%, and over the last year, milk feed increased by 26.1%, while fattening feed rose by 25.5%.

Pesticide prices increased by 6.8% compared to the previous month and showed a yearly increase of 34.3%. Electricity prices increased by 30.4% annually. Diesel prices decreased by 0.5% monthly, while they rose by 18% year-on-year.”