Despite low prices this season, potato areas are on the rise in North West Europe in 2018. The NEPG (North-western European Potato Growers) estimates that the top 5 producing countries will plant 0.4% more potato acreage compared to last year.
Current stocks are high, but due to delayed planting and the late onset of market rush, NEPG expects the current season for the processing industry to be longer than usual. For the fresh market, the situation should be similar.
"We expect a very divided market in the coming months: on the one hand, higher quality lots for a higher price, and on the other, the poorer quality at lower prices and almost without demand. NEPG hopes there will be enough potatoes of good fries to finish the season."
Plantations
All countries report relatively late plantings. On the continent, work is almost complete, while in Britain, only half was done in the first week of May. France, Belgium and Germany increased their area, while the Netherlands would have reduced by 2.5%. As Britain does not yet have an estimate, it is the average of the last 5 years that has been used to estimate the 2018 interim area. In total, NEPG areas increased by 0.4% compared to the previous year. Last year, 6.7% above the average of the last 5 years, which exceeds the growth of the processing industry. The availability of seedlings encouraged plantations, as well as the higher demand for contracts from processing plants, and the lack of alternatives for the farmer (because of low prices for sugar beet and cereals).
Based on these estimates, a total of 585,600 ha would be planted this year in NEPG. In several countries (France and Germany) the trend is to produce fewer potatoes for the fresh market and more industrial potatoes (ie higher yielding varieties). From the average yield of the last 5 years, the 2018 production could be 4% lower than last year (year of (very) high yield)).
There is also a development of starch potato surfaces in Germany, France and the Netherlands. These areas are not included in the NEPG estimates.
- First estimate at the start of May 2018
- Reminder for Great Britain: in the absence of an estimate available to date, the average of 5 years has been retained for the 2018 areas
For more information:
NEPG
UNPT
François-Xavier Broutin
Tel: + 33 (0) 1.44.69.42.43
Mobile: + 33 (0) 6.23.17.40.35