China's carrot production has increased in 2015. As a result prices have been lower than last year. The domestic market has witnessed stronger demand than in previous seasons compared to export markets. This could be caused by the strong yuan. Big export countries are Malaysia, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. The majority of the crop is still exported. Current export prices are 550 USD per ton.
“Different export countries have different product preferences. In the Middle East, buyers are looking for smaller sized carrots between 80 and 150 grams, Singapore and Malaysia are looking for medium carrots of 150-200 grams and Canada is looking for large carrots of 200 grams and more. Russia has no specific requirements”, explains Ms Lily Dong the export manager of Brother International Trading.
The company export carrots almost all year around. Lily: “main carrot producing regions in China are Fujian, Shandong, Hebei and Inner Mongolia. In recent years, through training and the introduction of new carrot varieties output has increased considerably. The most widely produced carrot is the SK4-316 variety. SK4-316 carrots are suitable for processing and export. Total output is estimated to be 20 million tons a year for the whole of China. Near Xiamen in Fujian province there is a large carrot producing base. Total acreage here reaches 2,400 hectares (35,000 mu). Average output is 6,000 kilogram carrots per mu. China is the biggest winter carrot producing country in the world. 90% of all winter carrots are destined for export markets.”
“A combination of different production regions makes China a year-round producer. Fujian carrots are harvested in January until April, Shandong carrots enter the market from May to June, followed by Hebei carrots in August until October and carrots from Inner Mongolia in September and October. For us it is important that our carrots have a uniform appearance: bright colour, not mud, not dry rot, no spots, no head that is greening and no green central core. We work with fully integrated cold transport. Our trucks pick up carrots at the farms after harvest and within 24 hours the carrots are at a temperature of 0° Celsius”.
