Belgium
Fiwap/PCA market message:
Industrial conservation varieties:
Fontane: €25,00 to €27,00/qt; strong market;
Challenger: €25,00 to €27,00/qt; strong market;
Bintje: €20,00 to €25,00/qt. Great differences in quality between lots. The "standard" quality is rare and low on supply, and its price is firmly maintained from €25.00/qt. The supply of weak, loose EPS batches of irregular roast tends to increase, faced with a rather reduced demand. These lots are negotiated (especially according to their size) mainly on the basis of €20.00/qt in a weak market. The compulsory passage to the salt bath induces costs and leads to tarings; sometimes to several tens of%. Refusals keep being reported due to the excessive presence of loose, glassy, too small, or poor roast quality.
Harvests are quite slow, conditions are becoming too dry in some sub-regions (center of the country, Hesbaye) where the machines are locally at a standstill. Late haulm destructions (especially in Challenger) also do not allow all plots to be approached.
European physical markets
Summary of rates (source: NEPG):
Fresh market
Very few transactions, given the uncertainties of available amounts (in quantity and quality) to honor the contracts throughout the season. The supply is very low, and the demand is wait-and-see. Soft pulp varieties are of interest to manufacturers.
Soft pulp varieties (Challenger, Alegria, Artemis): €27,00 to €32,00/qt
Firm pulp varieties: Type Nicola, Franceline : €30,00 to €35,00/qt
Type Charlotte, Annabelle, Jazzy : €35,00 to €40,00/qt.
Bintje plant: Dutch plant, class A, made in March 2019, per 5 tons, in bags, excl. VAT: strong prices, no trade:
Size 28 - 35 mm : €89,00 – €92,00/qt
Size 35 – 45 mm : €58,00 – €61,00/qt
According to NAK (Batavian Plant Certification Service) 21.7% of the batches were decommissioned during post-control. At the same time in 2017, these decommissions were 17.1%, and in 2016 7.8%. Aphid flights were more important this season, the purifications began later, and the treatment was more difficult in dry conditions (less visible symptoms). About 501% of the harvest is back, and the productions are down 15 to 20% (source: “Boerderij”).
Future market
EEX in Leipzig (€/a) Bintje, Agria and various related for conversion, 40 mm+, min 60 % 50 mm +:
Netherlands
Harvests continue, and conditions for storage are considered optimal in many areas. Industrials give priority to deliveries from the field under contract, and buy little on free markets. The recorded transactions are between €28 and €30/qt for the industry, €25 - €26/qt for the export, and from €30/qt for the domestic fresh market. Some transactions for delayed delivery are reported in industrial varieties at +/- €30.00/qt for November, and up to €33/qt for March/April. Export is qualified as moderate, quantities are being held back by the high price level. The demand is essentially African, at prices ranging from €29.00 to €32.00/qt in bags.
PotatoNL course: also available on www.potatonl.com
France
For the industry, prices remain firm in all varieties except Bintje. The low quality of some lots of Bintje weighs on the courses. Real transactions are negotiated on a case-by-case basis, depending on variety, quality, and quantity, but at prices often higher than what is officially displayed, and the best batches of Bintje even reach €28 to €29/qt. However, there is less activity on the markets, with manufacturers seeming less likely to buy, whereas producers are primarily looking for harvests. In export, contacts are made with the Eastern countries, and trade starts timidly towards the countries of the South. Versatile varieties (which also interest the factories!) Are traded between €25 and €30/qt, and firm pulp varieties between €35 and €40/qt. In the field, the harvests will be increased to 75% (UNPT estimate) in the main producing regions. Harvests are delayed by local weather being (too) dry again, as well as due to late haulm destruction.
Unwashed industrial potatoes, bulk, selling price, excl. VAT, North Seine, €/qt, min – max (avg) (RNM):
Germany
As of October 4, prices remained unchanged for firm pulp on the fresh market (Rhineland) at €28,00/qt, and at €26,00/qt for soft pulp. For firm pulp on-farm sales (Rhineland) prices vary between €11,00 and €12,00/qt per 25 kg bag (unchanged). In the fresh market, after the reduced-price offers put in place by mass retailers, comes the period when the harvests are (almost) finished, the potatoes returned (sometimes treated with sprout inhibitors), and the time when the supply is reduced. Prices could be a little tense. In potatoes for the industry (fries), prices remain unchanged, strong market. Agria /Zorba at €28,00/qt (+€1), Fontane at €27,00/qt, and Innovator/Ivory Russet at €29,00/qt. On the processing market, the harvest is on schedule, relatively large supply (sometimes with lower quality lots), but prices remain stable and strong.
*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 price (all markets) week 39: 29,98 €/qt.