Mood among Flemish greenhouse vegetable growers increasingly positive

The mood among Flemish greenhouse vegetable growers has been increasingly positive over the last six months, show inquiries conducted for the Vlaamse Conjunctuurindex in the spring of 2018. The index increased from 82 to 87 on a scale of 100. A disappointing period in the last six months (index score 82) is more than compensated by the positive expectations for the future (103).

Price forming

According to 52% of the respondents the sales price went down in the past six months, and for the future 37% expects this trend to continue.

Production increase

40% of the respondents expects to extend their production.

Energy price
The relatively mild winter was a bonus to the respondents. The percentage of greenhouse growers indicated higher energy costs drops from 79% over the past period to 48% in the coming period.

General downward economic trend
In total 530 respondents, coming from agriculture and other (greenhouse) sectors submitted the inquiries. After three upward trends, the Conjunctuurindex dropped from 87 to 78. The greenhouse growers are getting away undamaged. The index for the greenhouse ornamental horticulture does drop from 97 to 81. 24% of the ornamental growers expects to have to reduce production.

Obstacles
The obstacles experienced by the respondents went down from 69% to 64%. The main obstacle in the past six months turned out to be the weather (24%). Crop diseases also were an obstacle (8%), but greenhouse vegetable growers experienced a drop in plant diseases, from 21% to 10%

Source: Vlaamse Landbouwconjunctuurindex Voorjaar 2018