American peeled garlic importers are reporting strong sales figures for 2015, thanks in large part to the effectiveness of antidumping duties levied against Chinese garlic.
Juan Pablo Lozano of Garland LLC out of Miami, Florida, says that prices and product quality continue to increase with Mexican and Spanish garlic production thriving. Meanwhile, demand remains strong. “The market has been high,” Lozano explains. “The prices are still high.”
Lozano says that duties imposed through antidumping laws have created a healthier market and have been vital for an industry once dominated by Chinese suppliers. “This opened the door,” explains Lozano. “There is more opportunity.”
Stronger Prices
For Garland, which specializes in fresh and peeled garlic, sales continue to grow. Citing peeled garlic prices, Lozano says that both Mexican and Spanish imports are selling at strong price points, with 20 lb. cases of peeled garlic trading at $38.00 to $40.00 for Mexican product and $45.00 to $48.00 for Spanish product.
The bump in value has also affected domestic production. In late 2014, 20 lb. cases of peeled American garlic sold for an average of $39.59. This year, Lozano says prices have consistently hovered between $40.00 to $42.00.
Meanwhile, a 20 pound case of peeled Chinese garlic is selling for $50.00 to $56.00 on the American market.
Better Product Quality
In addition to a stronger, healthier market, Lozano says that the duties mean a higher quality product for American consumers.
“China has the benefit of hand-peeled garlic,” he explains. Hand-peeled garlic, according to Lozano, appears more attractive to consumers and leads to higher sales.
Mexican, Spanish, and domestic garlic, on the other hand, is machine-peeled. This means a less attractive appearance. But Lozano says the appearance misleads consumers, “There’s no chemicals, and it’s a lot fresher,” he says of Garland’s current product.
