“As of September 1, 2024, French production of cucumbers is estimated at 175,600 tonnes for the 2024 campaign, an increase of 3,800 tonnes over one year (+2%). In August 2024, prices were 10% higher than those in August 2023 and 11% higher than the 2019-2023 price average for the same month. These increases confirm those of July (+11% over one year and +9% compared to the five-year average),” indicates Agreste in its economic report.
Production on the rise in the Center-West
The national areas planted with cucumbers for the 2024 campaign would be down 2% year-on-year, to 1,027 hectares, mainly due to a reduction in greenhouse areas in the Pays de la Loire. They would remain slightly higher than the average surface area over the 2019-2023 period (+ 1%), which remains low due to the particularly small surface areas of the 2019 and 2020 campaigns in Languedoc-Roussillon, which have since recovered. National production of cucumbers is estimated at 175,600 tonnes in 2024. It would be up 2% year-on-year, and close to the five-year average (-1%).
The increase over one year is particularly clear in the Central-West basin given an improvement in greenhouse production yields. The gloomy spring weather slowed down vegetative development and subjected production to strong pest and health pressure in the Central-West basin, resulting in national production below the five-year average in May and June. Production recovered during the summer.
Marketing: peak production reached before mid-August
In June, the market is rather well oriented, with the production trough generating limited supply to satisfy demand. In July, supply increased regularly and prices remained at a good level. In August, peak production is reached in the middle of the month, then supply begins to decline, particularly in Languedoc-Roussillon. The market remains generally well oriented.
Between January and July 2024, exports (7,200 tonnes) are down 2% and imports (41,900 tonnes) are up 2% compared to the same period of the previous campaign. In total, the deficit in foreign trade in cucumbers in volume increased by 3% over one year.
Source : agreste.agriculture.gouv.fr
Photo : Dreamstime
