Free of charge

Blue poppy seeds: the outlook in Hungary is bleak

August 10, 2022 at 4:48 PM , Der AUDITOR
Play report as audio

BUDAPEST/CHRUDIM. While crop estimates in the Czech Republic have improved slightly compared to earlier forecasts, the mood on the Hungarian blue poppy seed market has reached zero. Meanwhile, the new EU regulation is causing concern among market players in all growing countries.

EU regulation affects all market players

The mood on the blue poppy seed market is currently very subdued. Although the crop outlook in the Czech Republic has improved slightly compared to earlier reports and some market players expect a volume of a good 18,000 mt, growers and producers are nevertheless concerned about the new EU regulation that came into force on 1 July. This regulates the opium alkaloid content in poppy seeds. There are differences in prices depending on the supplier, but the prices for the new crop are significantly higher than the prices for the old crop.

Standstill in Hungary

Market players in Hungary are particularly pessimistic this year. On request of the AUDITOR editorial team, they report that the blue poppy seed trade there has practically reached zero and the enquiries do not even correspond to a tenth of the usual quantity. Besides the new EU regulation, the poor economic situation and the tense geopolitical situation are said to be the main reasons for the trade standstill. Growers are reportedly withdrawing more and more from the sector and the Hungarian crop is said to be just one third of the average. Normally, this would have led to an increase in imports, but the hopelessness of market players and the almost non-existent demand have prevented this from happening this year. "I don't know what's coming, but the signs are not pretty," explains one frustrated market player.

View more
- price chart, blue poppy seeds, Czech Republic
- price chart, blue poppy seeds, Turkey
- price charts for oilseeds, grains, spices and more 

View related articles

Go to the News Overview
Grains
Oct 23, 2026
BRUSSELS. Trump’s push for a deal between Ukraine and Russia has driven down wheat. EU corn production will fall to its lowest in 36 years. China is carrying the strong export performance for US soybeans. The EU will need to bridge a supply gap for rapeseed.
Oilseeds
Oct 22, 2026
ISLAMABAD/NEW DELHI. In Pakistan, the 2026/2027 sesame seed crop is expected to be smaller than previously predicted. In India, strong domestic demand is keeping sesame seed prices firm.
Oilseeds
Oct 22, 2026
SOFIA/BRUSSELS. Logistical challenges are driving up prices. Turkey is increasing imports from the EU. Kazakh sunflower seeds are under pressure from a record crop in Russia.
Oilseeds
Oct 21, 2026
DALIAN/KYIV. The smaller Chinese shine skin crop is driving up the pumpkin seed market; EU-compliant produce in particular is in short supply. Rising production and logistics costs are adding to the pressure on prices. In Ukraine, commercial pumpkin cultivation is gaining in importance, but drought and a lack of storage capacity are holding back development.