Published on August 26,2003 Questions or Comments? Click here ! Vegetable Market Report: Raw Materials Situation Baby Corn Raw Materials The amount of fresh baby corn supplies all over the country remains limited as a result of unfavorable weather condition and the end of recent crop, according to our industry source. Fresh supplies, which are currently available for harvest, mostly come from the central part of the country such as Nakornpathom, Ratchaburi and Kanchanaburi provinces. Source said this crop was planted in the end of June and the beginning of July and available not in a large amount because there is a report that a lot of baby corn producing areas in these regions were hit by flood and rainfall which directly affected the amount of fresh supplies. On the other hand, the situation of fresh supplies in the north of the country is positive because there is a report about baby corn producing areas were hit from the flood and rainfall only for a tiny volume. Our source said this is because baby corn planters have stop planting their new crop for a short period to avoid the rainfall. It is forecasted that there continue to be rainfall in the country until the end of this month thus baby corn planters have to pause their cultivation for a while. Our source expected that planters could cultivate their new crop in the beginning or in the middle of next month. Such crop would be ready for harvest in the end of October. It is also expected that baby corn planters would plant their new crop in a large amount due to strong demand from buyers but they have to make sure with the weather condition. Current baby corn quality is good and match with the buyer's expectation in spite of much rainfall in several producing areas, our source said. There is no report about poor quality of baby corn, which is caused from rainfall such as bruised baby corn or the expansion of fungus during this week. On the other hand, our source said planters ignored harvesting their crop due to unattractive low price, not because of current rainfall. Price Average size baby corn is now trading at 19 baht per kilogram, compared with 19-20 baht per kilogram in the previous week and 17-20 baht per kilogram in the same period last year. Larger size baby corn is now trading at 8-9 baht per kilogram, compared with 7-9 baht per kilogram last week and 5-7 baht per kilogram in the previous year. Market There continue to be demand for Thai canned baby corn continuously from both domestic and foreign markets during this week. Factories are now manufacturing only to fulfill existing orders while some factories are focusing on canned sweet corn instead due to strong demand from buyers. Sweet corn Raw Materials The situation of fresh sweet corn in the country is positive during this week because there is new crop of fresh supplies available for a harvest according to our source. Our source reported that this crop comes from sweet corn producing areas in the east, north and central part of the country and it is expected that it would be available in a large amount and enough with strong demand from buyers. Moreover, it is added that there is no report about sweet corn supplies were hit by flash flood because planters cultivated this crop only in the upland areas. Our source revealed that sweet corn producing areas are in every part of the country except in the south because of the unfavorable weather condition and there are no canned sweet corn factories in this area. Moreover, it is reported that sweet corn cultivation has attracted planters because of the stable price of fresh supplies and strong demand from markets. Sweet corn planters will cultivate their new crop next month and in a large amount due to demand from contract farming. This crop would be ready for harvesting in the next couple month. However, our source said that cool weather in the end of the year would affect the growth of sweet corn so there would be a shortage of fresh supplies again in during November- January next year. Quality of fresh supplies is normal and satisfies both domestic and foreign buyers although there is a report about small size and missing kernels baby corn. There is no report about rainfall, which damaged or affected to quality of fresh supplies during this week. Price Fresh sweet corn remain trading at 3.80-4 baht per kilogram since the beginning of this month, compared with 3.50-4 baht per kilogram in the same period last year. Market Year Total export of Thai frozen sweet corn Total export of Thai preserved sweet corn Tons Million Baht Tons Million Baht Jun 2001 194.39 7.14 3,246.34 91.91 Jun 2002 94.85 4.27 4,261.61 116.55 Jun 2003 517.38 22.82 34,903.84 980.88 According to the Thai Customs Department, total exports of Thai frozen sweet corn in June 2003 reach 81.42 tons, cost 3.89 million baht, increased 51.19 percent from 39.74 tons in the previous month but dropped 16.49 percent from 94.85 tons in the same period last year. Major destinations for frozen sweet corn from Thailand in June 2003 are Australia (38.23 tons) Belgium (19 tons), Japan (16 tons), and UK (8.2 tons). Total cumulative for Thai frozen sweet corn from January - June 2003 stood at 517.38 tons, valued 22.82 million baht, compared with 625.52 tons, cost 28.25 million baht in the same period a year ago. Thailand exported 6,627.10 tons of preserved sweet corn in June 2003, dropped 26.32 percent from 8,371.51 tons in May 2003 but increased slightly 35.69 percent from 4,261.61 ton in June 2002 and increased 51.01 percent from 3,246.34 tons in June 2001. Total cumulative for Thai preserved sweet corn exports from January - June 2003 stood at 34,903.84 tons, cost 980.88 million baht, compared with 28,276.71 tons valued 793.23 million baht from January - May 2003. Major importers for Thai preserved sweet corn in June 2003 were UK (1,395.44 tons), Korea (1,074.38 tons), Germany (598.47 tons), Spain (518.11 tons), Taiwan (375.04 tons) and US (356.78 tons). There continue to be strong orders for Thai canned sweet corn from both domestic and foreign markets. Our source said Thai sweet corn is more advantage than other producers such as U.S. because we can cultivate all year round and we have no problem about genetically modified organism (GMO) sweet corn. Questions or Comments? Click here ! Source: FoodMarketExchange.com