Concerns about shortages aggravate the situation, as consumers overbuy to stock up, creating a vicious cycle.
After the oil, the mostaza -essential seasoning of French gastronomy- scarce in grocery stores.
After withdrawing certain insecticides in 2016, France became heavily dependent on imports from Canada, which has just experienced a drought. Faced with the shortage of mustard, the French try to stockpile, aggravating the situation.
Six years ago, France withdrew from the market the main combined insecticides to combat pests in the mustard seed crop.
“From 12,000 tons in 2016, we have gone to 4,000 tons (of production) in 2021”, explains Fabrice Genin to the newspaper Libération, president of the Association of Mustard Seed Producers of Burgundy (APGMB). “We can no longer repel the pests”he complains.
“In the last five years, we have seen a drop in productivity of almost 50%. Today we supply French manufacturers with everything we can in quantity, without having any stock”dice Genin.
Canada became the main supplier of grain, supplying 80% of French needs. Nevertheless, the drought that hit western Canada reduced production by 28%according to the Canadian Ministry of Agriculture.
From 2020, when it peaked at 135,000 tons, Canadian production fell to 99,000 tons in 2021, and is then estimated at 71,000 tons for this year. Ottawa then decided restrict their exports and prices skyrocketed to double compared to the previous year.
France could have searched for grain in Europe: Ukraine and Russia are the second and third world producersbut with the ports blocked or under sanctions, their trade was interrupted after the Russian invasion.
Added to this situation is the rise in raw materials, which affects the glass and metal used to package the product.
That’s the way it is, the price of this condiment has shot up 9.26% in one year, according to the TF1 television network.
Scarcity concerns aggravate the situation, as consumers buy more to stock up, creating a vicious circle. In this way, one out of every 10 supermarkets no longer has mustard and three out of four have problems obtaining the product.