Rising Pasta Prices In Canada: Pasta lovers get caught because they spend extra on their favorite comfort dish. Severe Canadian storms and European weather shifts are hurting durum wheat, the key ingredient in pasta. Pasta is durum wheat. In May, the Italian government held an emergency meeting due to pasta shortages. Pasta costs grew faster than the country’s inflation.
Famous Italian pasta makers have had to turn to Turkey and other non-traditional durum wheat sources. For Toronto-based Continental Noodles, which sells fettuccine and ravioli to Whole Foods and other retailers, a 20-kilogram bag of durum semolina flour has increased by an astonishing 24%. Because tomato rates have dropped in Spain and India, production expenses have increased.
Vincent Liberatore, Continental’s owner, anticipates prices to rise uncomfortably due to the drought, which has reduced Canadian durum production, which is vital to world supplies. The ups and downs of commodities prices are our biggest worry; it’s like a roller coaster with no end in sight, he said. A roller coaster ride with no end in sight.”
The Nielsen market analysis found that pasta costs in supermarkets had risen 8% in the US and 12% in Europe in one year. The faltering rice market and India’s export restrictions have raised prices, adding to the stress.
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According to the International Grains Council, the 2023/24 global durum harvest will be the lowest in 20 years. This would lower global reserves to their lowest level in 30 years. On the prairies of Canada, Darold Niwa is angry that his durum harvest has dropped to its second-lowest level in nearly a decade.
Agriculture expert Jerry Klassen adds, “The pipeline in Canada is empty.” Spain, which is droughting, Italy, and France, which are suffering crop quality issues, have yields similar to the US.
Unexpectedly, Turkey may export durum. This has temporarily reduced Mediterranean and North American consumer price pressures. Philip Werle, a partner at Spain’s Northstar Brokerage, says this comfort is temporary: “Once Turkey runs out of its stockpile, prices will go back up.”
Due to resource constraints and weather uncertainty, alternative options are being considered. Soft wheat instead of durum could make pasta faster, but it wouldn’t be al dente. Strategie Grains analyst Severine Omnes-Maisons remarked, “The global demand for durum cannot be met with the supplies we have now.”
Italian durum miller Vincenzo Martinelli, who leads Italmopa, is eagerly anticipating the Canadian crop results. If Canada is removed, “You should get ready for prices to go up.”
Our Reader’s Queries
Why is pasta going up in price?
The surge in pasta prices can be traced back to the elevated costs of raw materials during the Ukrainian war, as well as the rise in energy and packaging expenses. Additionally, pasta manufacturers have pointed out supply chain challenges and mounting logistical costs as contributing factors. These combined factors have led to the current high prices of pasta.
Why is there a shortage of pasta?
Pasta supplies at retail stores are facing increased pressure due to rising production costs, natural disasters, and inflation across the supply chain. While empty shelves like those seen during the COVID-era shortages are not expected, purchasing pasta may become more difficult and expensive, according to Covington.
How much does pasta cost in Italy?
The cost of pasta in Italy saw a significant surge in 2023, with the average price per kilo reaching 2.13 euros. This marks a substantial increase from the previous year’s average of 1.7 euros per kilo.