In the Netherlands, large quantities of vegetables and flowers for the UK market are produced. What are the consequences of Brexit for this business? German vegetable growers have their fears.
Sometimes complex, such as the Brexit on a Daily basis breaking down: a vegetable shelf in a German supermarket. Here could break a disorderly exit of the British from the EU in a tough competition – that is, at least, to producers of the fear of German Vegetables.
Her look is directed into the neighbouring country of the Netherlands. Where are about to land peppers, and tomatoes, which are used actually for the British market, in the end? Dutch export prepare your on the worst-case scenario of a chaotic Brexits and to look for alternative markets for perishable goods. In Germany, too.
“We fear a fall in prices,” said the managing Director of the German group of vegetable growing in the Central Association of horticulture, Jochen wink Hoff, the German press Agency. By the Brexit, the goods could be pushed to the non-UK market, especially on the German – the largest in the EU.
Vegetables market in Germany
Peppers for 185 million euros
It comes to much, because the UK is after Germany and Belgium, is the third-largest sales market for the Netherlands. The Dutch farmers have exported according to the national statistics office in 2018, fruit and vegetables worth around two billion euros to the UK. Detailed listings of the products are not available for this period. 2017 there were tomatoes for around 275 million euros, peppers for € 185 million and cucumbers for 90 million euros.
It should come to long waiting times at the border would have to Dutch producers of fresh new sales markets. “Then it may be that a lot is brought on the market in Germany,” said Klaas Johan Osinga, Brexit-expert at the Dutch farmers ‘ organisation LTO, the dpa.
Of 5 percent to the price decline
Export an Association spokeswoman said your paths, your sensor according to alternative markets in the EU, such as. This is not only to Germany but also to France, Poland or Belgium. And on the part of the producers, it is not only the Netherlands. Horticulture expert wink Hoff refers also to Ireland as a producer of mushrooms for the English market.
“The danger for us is that we first have to deal with it, these Over here to take in,” said wink Hoff. “The experience shows that even a five percent market oversupply of fresh vegetables can mean up to a 50 percent fall in prices for the growers.” The Association is also assumed that vegetables could spoil due to the market oversupply.
The German fruit trade Association, like other industry representatives this week in Berlin at the fruit and vegetable trade fair, Fruit Logistica, is also expected that there would be a chaotic Brexit impact on the EU internal market. An increase in the supply of fresh fruit and vegetables could lead to falling prices. The UK is a major country of import for many other EU member States such as Spain, Italy, the Netherlands and Belgium. In the case of a disorderly EU exit is no longer to be expected that the supply of fresh fruit and vegetables, runs so smoothly, it is the Association.
Eye of the needle for the transport of goods – prior to the Eurotunnel in Calais
Every hour counts
Similar to the German trade Association, sees it. If in the short term, no alternative paragraph could markets, Overcapacity and price fluctuations.
So far, nobody knows what the exact consequences will lead to a exit of the British from the European Union. The UK wants the EU on 29. March, leave. But still the exit agreement is not in place. A Brexit without agreement – No-Deal-Brexit called – seems therefore increasingly likely.
Dutch tomatoes or flowers will be sold within a few hours in the centre of London on the markets. In the case of perishable goods, every hour counts. Producers would also decide in the short term, where you have to sell, – said Osinga. “If the Chaos at the border is large, then the send their trucks in the other direction.”