"France and Belgium are positioning themselves on dual-use varieties"

Belgium 

Fiwap/PCA market message:

Early industrial varieties: Non data. End of season.
Industrial conservation varieties:
Bintje: €25.00 to €27.00/qt ; most common price at €25.00/qt; sustained market;
Fontane: €25.00 to €27.00/qt ; higher prices have been seen for lots of exceptional quality (size and EPS) ; strong market;
Challenger: €25.00 to €27.00/qt; strong market.

 

These prices apply to all buyers, bulk, friable, selling price, excluding VAT, direct delivery 35 mm+, min 60% 50 mm+, and min 360 g/5kg of EPS. However, some (unofficial) size standards and EPS flexibilities are applied by some buyers. Supply in Bintje tends to increase, with increasing quality problems (EPS, being loose, size) due to rejection in the field. The industry is actively buying.

Summary of rates (source: NEPG):

EEX in Leipzig (€/a) Bintje, Agria and various related for conversion, 40 mm+, min 60 % 50 mm +:

 

 

Dutch plant, class A, made in March 2019, per 5 tons, in bags, excl. VAT: high prices, very little trade:

 

Size 28 - 35 mm : €89,00 – €90,00/qt

 

Size 35 – 45 mm : €58.00 – €61.00/qt

 

Sustained market, but not evolving much last week. Prices remain supported by uncertainties about final yields, and the emergence of crop release in susceptible varieties. The (mid) late varieties retain growth potential, but are slow to materialize in tons. The internal fresh market is getting better, with producer prices between €24.00 and €28.00/qt in basic varieties. Export is still slow, but interest is growing in many African destinations, including Senegal.

 

The samplings published in mid-August (last week) show an average of 36.4 t/ha in week 33 (25 days ago), against 46.4 t/ha in 2017. The yield in 2018 is therefore 20% lower than last year, and 16% lower than the average of the last 5 years. The variation between plots and varieties is enormous (from less than 10 t/ha, to more than 60 t/ha), following the drought, but also the excessive rains at the beginning of the season. The proportion of 50 mm+ amounted to 52%, compared to 71% last year, and 62% on average over several years. The production potential varied enormously between regions, varieties, and plots.

 

Strong markets and rather stable prices last week. Industries (French and Belgian) are positioning themselves on dual-use varieties (fresh/industrial) such as Victoria, Caesar (notably Beauce), Milva. Concern is growing among buyers (trade and industry) as to availability (in quantity and quality) of the 2018 harvest. Real transactions range from €25 to €30/qt depending on variety and buyer for the industry, between €25/qt (multi-purpose varieties) and €40/qt (firm pulp varieties) on the fresh markets. The first export contacts to Southern Europe took place. In the field, harvests are well underway in varieties for the fresh market, in various regions. It’s estimated that harvest progress is 70% in Beauce, and 40% in Champagne. In industrial plots, on the other hand, haulm destructions remain very much in the Nord/Pas-de-Calais where "we allow to grow to the end", which should push back most of the harvest to the beginning of October.

 

Unwashed industrial potatoes, bulk, selling price, excl. VAT, North Seine, €/qt, min – max (avg) (RNM):

 

 

The fresh market (Rhineland), prices remained unchanged for firm pulp at €28.00/qt, and €26.00/qt for soft pulp on September 7. For early firm pulp on-farm sales (Rhineland), prices ranged from €11.00 to €12.00/qt per 25 kg bag (unchanged). In early potatoes for the industry (french fries), unchanged prices, strong market. Various early varieties from €26.00/qt for Agria / Zorba, to €28.00/qt (+ €1), Fontane to €27.00/qt, and Innovator/Ivory Russet to €29.00/qt.

Overall, the market remains tight, with better prices given for batches with larger sizes and length (transfo), and many lots of various "fresh market” varieties going for processing, provided that the dry matter is high enough.

 

 

Average producer price (all markets) week 35: €33.31/q.

 

Despite good yields, Polish production is expected to decline sharply. Surfaces have indeed dropped by around 10% (30,000 ha) to +/- 300,000 ha. Weather conditions were better than in Western Europe, but production is still estimated at only 8.5 million tons; 10 to 15 percent lower than last year. Current producer prices vary widely between €11.00 and €30.00/qt depending on variety, quality and region.

 

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