Belgium
Fiwap/PCA market message:
Industrial variety: General price, 35 mm+, min 60% 50 mm+, min 360 gr/5kg EPS, bulk, friable, selling price, excluding VAT, direct delivery:
Bintje: 2.00 to 3.00 €/a, depending on quality and destination; Quiet market (supply greater than, or equal to, demand). Very little space in the factories; peelers remain buyers of the best batches (size and roast), at higher prices. The supply is sufficient;
Challenger: stable market (supply equal to demand). Price around € 3.00/a. Internal stains remain a problem in the West of the country and in the North of France, sometimes leading to wet rot.
Fontane : 5.00 - 6.00 €/a, with the most popular price at 5.00 €/a. Strong market, with a very low supply. Always a demand for immediate delivery, as well as for delayed delivery (at higher prices).
Innovator: 5.00 to 6.50 €/a for immediate delivery, strong market, little supply, with renewed interest from some industrial buyers. The export of small volumes to various destinations in Southern and Eastern Europe, at low prices.
European physical markets: summary of rates (source: NEPG):
Bintje plant: There is little trade left, and small sizes have become very difficult to find. Dutch plant, class A, made in April 2018, per 5 tons, in bags, excl. VAT:
Size 28 - 35 mm : 62,00 – 64,00 €/a
Size 35 – 45 mm : 28,00 – 31,00 €/a
Future market: EEX in Leipzig (€/a) Bintje, Agria and various related for conversion, 40 mm+, min 60 % 50 mm +:
Netherlands
Industries don’t let batches of a good roast slip, but they don’t exactly actively look for them either. Quotations progress with difficulty, and only partially reflect the strength of the markets; Price ranges are tightening, as the minimum of most categories rose last week. Overall, however, the fried varieties have a wide range of 5.00 to 9.00 €/a. The factories stabilise the market somewhat by having their quantities delivered later. The busy market comes from the fact that the delay of early crops has become obvious now, and that it will be necessary to go with the old harvest longer. Export doesn’t improve, and prices have declined under pressure: 6.50 to 7.50 €/a per big bag for Eastern Europe, and up to 10 - 12 €/a for wholesale size, washable or friable for Spain. It’s become difficult to find proper quality, Plantations experience delays throughout along the coast, and the southern regions of the Netherlands have received 20 to 45 mm since the beginning of the month, including 15 to 25 mm in the last 5 days. The work should gradually commence along this week.
VTA quotation (Verenigde Telers Akkerbouw)
France
The context is firmer for the industry, but prices remained unchanged last week. The markets are complicated for Bintje and Challenger, unlike the markets for Fontane, Markies or Innovator, for which you can easily find buyers between 5.00 and 6.00 €/a for direct delivery. The supply tends to be reduced by occupation on the fields. On the export side, price ranges are widening, and quality is closely monitored. Portugal, Spain, and Hungary continue to ask for red varieties, while Romania buys the Challenger at the lowest prices (around € 6.50/a brushed, big bag, selling price).
Plantation has started in the Hauts-de-France (in Picardy, but not yet in Flanders), in a heterogeneous way, in accordance with the sub-regions. By April 11, a certain percentage had also been planted in Beauce. Plantation wasn’t considered news in Normandy. All in all we may conclude that the season isn’t early.
Unwashed industrial potato, bulk, selling price, excl. VAT, North Seine, €/a, min – max (avg) (RNM):
Germany
On the fresh market, producer prices have either remained unchanged, or have slightly risen: as of April 10 the price estimation is 11.83 €/a (=) for firm pulp, and 11.25 €/a (+01 , 5%) for soft pulp. In potatoes for the industry (french fries), demand remains strong, and the prices of Fontane, Agria and Innovator are slightly up again. In organic potatoes, the producer prices are still going for around 48,00 €/a. The organic potatoes imported from the Mediterranean (Egypt and Israel) still aren’t very much present in supermarkets, for the benefit of the indigenous organic potatoes, or the rest of North West Europe. The demand is high for the Easter holidays. Although consumption has increased (+ 8 to 12%) since the new year, this has not allowed the price to strengthen in recent weeks, considering it’s relatively far below 50 €/a.
*you will have to deduct €1,00/a from these prices in their starting fields in the table above for sorting fees!
Great Britain
Average producer prices (in all markets) week 14 11: not quoted.
Spring remains quite wet (the wettest since 1995!) With about 15 mm in most regions last week. Many hectares of early crops have yet to be planted in their respective regions, such as Cornwall, or Jersey.
Prices are strong for fried varieties, with a reluctant supply, and a good demand for Fish & Chips. Markies and Agria reach 15.00 to 22.00 €/a (in bags). For the industry, the classic varieties (including Maris Piper) are between 5.00 and 9.00 €/a.
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