Fluctuations in feedstock prices hardly move consumer prices
In Germany, Agrarmarkt Informations-Gesellschaft (mbH) reports that consumer prices for rapeseed oil virtually remained at the same level of EUR 0.99 per litre on German average over the past five years. By contrast, movements of wholesale prices for rapeseed oil ex oil mill were much more pronounced – but had little impact on consumer prices. Below-average yields regularly raise the question of whether the limited domestic feedstock supply will make processed products more expensive. For example whether prices for rapeseed oil or margarine will rise as a result of the small 2019 rapeseed harvest.
For German rapeseed producers, the harvest was financially disappointing. However, this allows only limited conclusions to be drawn on the development of consumer product prices. The reason is that the shortage is absorbed by rapeseed imports, especially from eastern Europe, that were secured in good time to meet German demand. The German food industry exclusively uses GM-free rapeseed, and so do German oil mills in the production of rapeseed meal as the most important opposed GM-free source of feed protein. Some companies label their trading units as “GM-free”. This declaration is already found on many dairy products and it is well established in the food retailing sector today.
Category: Fuels
