Large consumers of sunflower oil are concerned about an imminent shortage of this oil. Supermarkets are already limiting the number of bottles of sunflower oil that can be purchased per customer; customers at Plus and Jumbo can take a maximum of one bottle with them.
The director of the trade association of professional fryers, ProFri, calls it almost inevitable that prices in snack bars and cafeterias will rise due to the shortage of sunflower oil and the demand for other oils. But consumers and large users - from snack bars and restaurants to (pastry) bakers - are also wary of other products.
Half-filled shelves
Ukraine and Russia are major exporters of sunflower oil. For example, two thirds of all sunflower oil that the Netherlands imports comes from Ukraine. The Central Food Trade Agency (CBL) is already seeing that supermarkets have fewer bottles of sunflower oil on their shelves. The stock of sunflower oil could be exhausted by mid-April, estimates the trade association for companies in animal and vegetable oils MVO. There are plenty of other oils available.
Sunflower oil is not only used in its pure form, for example to bake chips, it is also used in products such as bread, pasta, sauces, chips, biscuits and cakes. A shortage of sunflower oil means that all products in which it is used become more expensive or more difficult to obtain.
'Shorts during Ramadan'
"I fear that we will soon have to sell a liter bottle of sunflower oil for five euros," says Sükrü Temiz, owner of the Turkish supermarket Temiz, which has several branches and a wholesaler in Hengelo. "The purchase price has risen enormously. Because we have a wholesaler, we still get oil from suppliers, but filling a truck is not possible." He has also set a limit in his stores of five bottles per customer.
Habiba Bouanan says it took two days to find enough oil for the weekly meals that she distributes to women with a migration background in East Amsterdam. There is also normally sunflower oil in the food packages that she distributes on behalf of the Prachtvrouw foundation. "Now the shelves are empty."
She advises everyone not to hoard. "Oil is one of the first things you buy in your preparation for the Ramadan period. In that month the food is more festive," she says. Ramadan starts on April 1 this year. "Now I see people getting into trouble because of the high prices. And olive oil is even more expensive."
Supermarket owner Temiz also notices the concerns of his customers in the course of Ramadan. "For another shortage is flour." This could have consequences for the pides (large Turkish breads) and delicacies that many Turkish shops sell, which are popular during Ramadan.
Also problems with Turkish products
Temiz has almost nothing left in stock. And according to him, the next bottleneck is already in sight: Turkey no longer wants to export bulgur, red lentils and white beans, products that Turkish supermarkets often stock abroad. "I expect more shortages and even more jackpot prizes in four or five weeks."
"Perhaps it is good that we start living frugally during Ramadan, as it used to be," concludes Habiba Bouanan.