Oil, flour, pasta – these few products are already hard to find in Germany because of the war in Ukraine, and are even rationed. It turns out that another product may soon be missing from store shelves.
German crops are in short supply
Mustard may become a real luxury in Germany starting this fall. Almost 80% of the mustard seeds imported into the country come from Russia and Ukraine, and there is already a shortage of raw materials, said the CEO of the food association “Culinaria”, Markus Weck in an interview with the “Welt”. He fears that the shortage will intensify in the coming weeks and months. The association represents about 130 companies that produce, among other things, just mustard.
Depending on the company, the manufacturers’ stocks will last for several weeks or months. The problem will arise in the second half of 2022 and the first half of 2023. “Sowing must take place within the next two weeks,” said the head of the association.
Mustard seeds are also grown regionally in Germany. However, not on this scale, Weck added. Franz Wunderlich, owner of the Regensburg-based mustard company “Händlmaier,” confirmed in an interview with the “Welt” that he also works with German farmers, “but the quantities are far from sufficient for domestic mustard production.”
Mustard seeds from Canada are also no longer available
The next largest supplier, apart from Russia and Ukraine, is Canada. Händlmaier said: “We received Canadian mustard seed at short notice by air, but at the highest prices we have ever paid for raw material.
Now that option isn’t even there anymore. “There is currently no more mustard seed to buy on the world market.” That’s why Händlmaier is shutting down the first machines: “We are reducing mustard production and with this we will probably be able to continue deliveries until August.”
According to the Culinary Association, 38,320 tons of mustard seeds were imported into Germany in 2020, of which 51.9% came from Russia, 27.6% from Ukraine and 10.2% from Canada. 4% of mustard seeds came from Estonia and 6.4% from other countries. In Germany, almost 81,000 tons of mustard were produced with a value of about 167 million euros; per capita consumption was 805 grams.
Source: www.t-online.de, www.insidegermany.co