European physical markets
Price summary (source: NEPG):
Belgium
Fiwap/PCA market message:
Industrial early potatoes: the first transactions in the varieties Première and Amora took place last week. The market is supplied with early potatoes from France (Bordeaux) and Germany, but also by the last stocks of the old harvest (contracts).
Price for all comers, 35 mm+, min 60% 50 mm+, min 340g/5kg PSE, bulk, friable, departure, excl.VAT, direct delivery: 20.00 to 22.50 €/q, most practiced price at 20.00 €/q.
The market is considered stable, without any excessive offer given the uncertain context due to the dry weather conditions in the short and medium term. The observed yields exceed 30 t/ha. The PSE does not pose any problems overall, but the caliber is sometimes “limited”.
Auction price/veiling of Roulers (source: REO via PCA): July 1st. Weighted price (red and white) for hand-picked potatoes: 0.25 €/kg excl. VAT. Approx: 27 t.
Forward market
EEX in Leipzig (€/q) Bintje, Agria and var. related for conversion, 40 mm+, min 60% 50 mm+:
Netherlands
Quotation PotatoNL: also available on www.potatonl.com
Germany
The early potatoes of Lower Saxony and Palatinate were quoted at 67 €/q for the soft flesh/round varieties and at 69 €/q for the firm flesh/salad varieties. As for potatoes for the industry (fries), quotations at the end of the season at 30.00 €/q for the last Agria, Fontane &Co.
The potatoes imported from Israel and the potatoes introduced from Spain are gradually ending, while the natives are gaining strength. The offer, due to excellent growth conditions (and the season progressing), was at 4,000 t at the end of June, compared to 2,000 t for a “normal” year. The heat from last week slightly slowed down the consumption.
Native organic early potatoes: they come exclusively from the southwest at the moment with trading prices between 97 and 100 €/q. Their consumption for May (and the first part of June) is up compared to the same period last year. Last January, consumers bought 40% more organic potatoes, compared to the same period in 2018.
Great Britain
Average producer price (all markets) week 25: 27.03 €/q (compared to 26.12 €/q in week 24).
The 2019 areas are similar to last year with a first estimate at 118,000 ha.
The picking of the chips varieties started last week (Lady Rosetta of Cornwall) and the harvest of friable varieties (Maris Bard, Accord, Maris Piper, Maris Peer…) for the fresh market (wholesale market, peeling…) will follow in the coming days and weeks.