When thinking about garlic, you immediately think of China, which is not surprising, considering the country is one of the largest global suppliers and has been dominating prices for years. Indeed, several countries, including Spain, Hungary and Slovakia, could profit from a scarce market with local production, but they run great risks on a saturated market. The quality of Chinese garlic is very high, and is especially famous for its white colour combination.
Rolf Vrolijk, responsible for garlic import with Total Produce BV, gives his take on the market situation. “In May, the first garlic was harvested in the Henan province in the north of China. This early strain is slightly smaller in size than the late strain harvested in the Shandong province. This last province is famous for the production of garlic,” Vrolijk says.
Shift in sizing
“This year we have seen a significant shift in the sizes from Shandong. This is due to the extreme cold in November, during which temperatures of -15 to -17 degrees Celsius were measured, and temperatures are usually -10 degrees at the lowest. These temperatures damaged the roots of the garlic, causing the bulbs to either stay small or even die,” Vrolijk continues. “In 2015, an estimated ten per cent of additional garlic had been planted, but it is estimated that total output is at least 20 per cent lower. You can imagine that this will put considerable pressure on prices globally, and it is already apparent when looking at cultivators, as they do not want to sell their garlic too soon.”
Longstanding relationship with Chinese partner
Total Produce BV has been importing garlic for more than a decade, and to do so, they work closely with their Chinese partner Goodfarmer. This company is the largest exporter of garlic in the world, and has the expertise to export this product as their customers desire.
