It was a relatively quiet April for potato importers. Demand was quite low compared to the previous year, while price pressure was quite high as potatoes from the old harvest were sold with priority. For the next few weeks, however, the forecasts look good, says Jan Preiss of wholesaler Preiss Agrar. “The supermarket chains in Germany, as well as those in Holland, are now gradually switching to imported potatoes. May is usually the strongest sales month of the season. I am very positive about the current developments.”
Owner Jan Preiss of Preiss Agrar
Although the demand for the popular varieties Annabelle, Princess and Nicola is about the same as last year, the price is currently about 10 to 12 percent below last year's level. How the season will develop in terms of price and quantity, remains uncertain. “The bulk of the goods arrived in April in the respective ports of Europe and were then stored. However, sales are dependent on the Spanish supply, which will arrive in about three weeks. If there is less of this commodity, the demand for Egyptian potatoes will be correspondingly higher.”
The Egyptian new potatoes in the warehouse
Quality goods
The Egyptian supplies consist largely of tubers of sort 35/60. The lots arrive in jumbo sacks of 1,250 kg and are repacked in smaller sacks in the German packing plants before they are delivered to the respective supermarkets. Until a few years ago it was mainly 2.5 kg bags that were offered on the supermarket shelves. Today it is mainly the 1.5 kg bag.
Because of regionality and shelf life, local tubers have been marketed for as long as possible, which is why the sales of Egyptian new potatoes are now somewhat lower. Because of this, the new potato is no longer a mass-produced article, but a quality product, explains Preiss. “We are in a niche market and there is no room for poor quality. Due to this, second-class goods are no longer accepted, unlike in the past.”
Workers in Egyptian fields harvest the fresh tubers
Import trade
The Preiss Agrar company was founded in 2004 as a sole proprietorship and from the start has focused on the trade in agricultural products, especially potatoes, fruits and vegetables. At the same time, the supply of new potatoes, with the steady development of the company, was successively expanded. The product range now includes products from Malta, Egypt and Spain. In addition, the company imports citrus fruits, onions, ginger and exotics. In 2016, another step was taken when the company moved to a new building in Ebstorf.
Fresh Annabelle potatoes from Egyptian fields
For more information:
Preiss Agrar, Handel & Beratung e.K.
Jan Preiss
Brüggerfeld 36, D-29574 Ebstorf
Telefon:+49 5822 947483
Telefax:+49 5822 947493
E-Mail: info@preissagrar.eu
Web: www.preissagrar.eu