Food
Seed is scarce – but there is no threat of a mustard bottleneck for the time being
In Germany, mustard could become significantly more expensive due to seed shortages – but the yellow seasoning paste will probably not be scarce from the point of view of manufacturers. Photo: Jens Büttner/dpa-Zentralbild/dpa
© dpa-infocom GmbH
After the run on sunflower oil and flour, the next candidate could soon be on the list of highly coveted products. Mustard producers complain about supply bottlenecks for imported seeds.
In Germany, mustard could become significantly more expensive due to seed shortages – but the yellow seasoning paste will probably not be scarce from the point of view of manufacturers.
According to the food association Kulinaria, Ukraine is one of the most important suppliers of mustard seed. Should deliveries fail to materialize during the course of the year as a result of the war, difficulties could arise for mustard producers in the second half of the year and in the coming year.
“It is not yet possible to estimate exactly how the shortage will take place. The sowing for mustard would normally have to take place in the next two weeks, »said Kulinaria Managing Director Markus Weck. Because of the war, the focus there is certainly more on the cultivation of vital crops and not on growing food for export.
Problems before
Even before the war began, there were problems on the mustard seed market. Germany also gets mustard seed from Canada, said the head of the association. “But the country can certainly not absorb all the unusual goods on the world market this year.” Due to a drought last year, there is only about half the usual harvest.
But there are still inventories in the silos of many manufacturers, according to the association, which claims to represent 130 medium-sized companies in the food industry. “From the point of view of the association, the market for mustard will be rather difficult in 2023, as we are currently not making any assessments
how much mustard seed will be available on the world market during the course of the year.” It cannot be ruled out that individual retailers will fail as a result of the shortage.
However, mustard consumption has been declining in this country for years. According to Kulinaria, per capita consumption in Germany in 2010 was around 1.18 kilograms. In 2020 it was only 805 grams of mustard. According to the information, around 20 companies with 20 or more employees in Germany produce mustard – around 80,769 tons in 2020, almost 9 percent less than the year before. Mustard accounted for almost 11 percent of the total “delicatessen sauces” market, with tomato ketchup and tomato sauces as well as mayonnaise accounting for more than 30 percent of the production volume.
According to the association, almost 52 percent of mustard seed imports came from Russia in 2020, and 27.6 percent from Ukraine. Canadian suppliers accounted for just over 10 percent of imports.
Market was already tight
The Bavarian manufacturer Develey, which owns the Löwensenf, Bautz’ner and Reine de Dijon brands, says it sources its mustard seeds from the Ukraine, Canada and Germany, among others. “Due to the crop failure in Canada in 2021, the world market for mustard seed was already very tense,” the company said. However, there is currently no standstill in the production of the seasoning paste, one is capable of production.
According to a spokeswoman, the Nestlé subsidiary Thomy obtains mustard seed exclusively from Canada. In addition to the bad harvest, there are considerable problems transporting the goods from there to Europe. “Price increases are currently expected in almost all categories, including mustard,” she said.
Intensified mustard market
In the future, fans will not have to do without mustard, but they will probably have to pay more for it. “We won’t run out of mustard,” said association manager Weck. Because of the scarcity of seeds, prices have risen significantly, Develey said. “With the expected significantly lower harvest in the second half of the year, it can be assumed that the situation will worsen significantly again,” said a spokeswoman.
According to Luise Händlmaier GmbH, it is already informing trading partners that mustard could become twice as expensive as before. The reason for this is the exploding cost of raw materials, said Managing Director Franz Wunderlich. “And that will surely only be the beginning.” The current raw materials crisis will continue to affect prices and scarce availability of goods for the next two years due to lower crop yields. Further price increases are probably inevitable.
The mustard manufacturer based in Regensburg has so far purchased two thirds of the 10,000 tons of mustard seed it buys each year from Russia or the Ukraine. Everything has been done to get seeds from Canada, for example, said Wunderlich. But: “Currently there are no more mustard seeds to buy on the world market.” Starting next week, Händlmaier will therefore reduce mustard production. As a result, the manufacturer could probably remain able to deliver until August.