Cabbages market in Caribbean

Earlier Report Observations

The Caribbean cabbage market began the period at 222.8 thousand tonnes in 2018, supported by an expansion of cultivated area driven by growing demand from the processing industry for fermented products like kimchi and pickles. However, the market volume contracted over the next two years, falling to 160.7 thousand tonnes by 2020. Optimal climatic and humidity conditions for cultivation in 2019 were followed by significant global supply chain disruptions and agricultural input price fluctuations in 2020, which constrained production and distribution.

From 2021, the market entered a recovery phase, reaching 178.4 thousand tonnes by 2023. This growth was primarily driven by a rising consumer preference for organic and sustainable produce, which encouraged production shifts. The launch of new derived products, such as pickles and kimchi by leading companies, alongside the development of new brassica varieties optimized for taste and nutrition, created new market segments and supported renewed demand.

Production cabbages in Caribbean

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of cabbages, 2017-2020

World map of production of cabbages, 2017-2020

Caribbean cabbage production has declined for the third consecutive year. In 2020, the region produced 153.9 thousand tons of cabbages, marking an 18.5% decrease compared to the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, production fell by 42.3%, with an average annual decline rate of 16.7%.

Annual dynamics of production in Caribbean in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Exports cabbages from Caribbean

Exports in kind, t

The export market showed significant volatility during this period. Exports reached their lowest point in 2017 and peaked in 2019, with an 8.6-fold difference between these years. In 2020, Caribbean exported 538 tons of cabbages, representing an 86.2% decline from 2019. The highest export volume was recorded in 2019 at 3 892 tons, which also saw the largest annual increase of 576.1%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Caribbean in kind, 2017-2020, t

Between 2017 and 2020, Canada and the United States remained the primary destinations for Caribbean cabbage exports in volume terms, together accounting for 9.8% of total export flows.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Caribbean in kind, 2017-2020

Exports in value, K $ US

Export values displayed considerable instability throughout the timeframe. The lowest value occurred in 2020, while the highest was recorded in 2019, creating a 3.2-fold gap between these years. In 2020, cabbage exports from Caribbean totaled 991 thousand US dollars, reflecting a 69.1% decrease from the previous year. The peak value was reached in 2019 at 3 207 thousand US dollars, which also experienced the largest annual growth of 18.6%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Caribbean in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

From 2017 to 2020, the United States and Canada dominated Caribbean cabbage exports in value terms, jointly representing 27.6% of total export flows.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Caribbean in value, 2017-2020

Imports cabbages to Caribbean

Imports in kind, t

In 2020, Caribbean imported 7 308 tons of cabbages, showing a substantial 24.1% decrease from the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, imports declined by 10.3%, equivalent to an average annual decrease of 3.6%. The lowest import volume was recorded in 2018 at 7 257 tons, while the highest occurred in 2019 at 9 623 tons. The largest annual increase of 32.6% was also recorded in 2019.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Caribbean in kind, 2017-2020, t

Between 2017 and 2020, the United States (47.7% of import volume), Costa Rica (8.3%), and Canada (3.9%) were the main sources of cabbage imports to Caribbean in volume terms, together accounting for 60.0% of total import flows.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Caribbean in kind, 2017-2020

Imports in value, K $ US

In 2020, Caribbean cabbage imports amounted to 9 529 thousand US dollars, representing a 20.5% decrease compared to the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, import values fell by 19.8%, equivalent to an average annual decline of 7.1%. The highest import value was recorded in 2019 at 11 984 thousand US dollars, which also saw the largest annual increase of 2.0%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Caribbean in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

From 2017 to 2020, the United States was the dominant market for Caribbean cabbage imports in value terms, accounting for 71.9% of total imports, while other destinations played a smaller role.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Caribbean in value, 2017-2020