According to the latest bulletin of the French Potato Inter-branch organization (CNIPT), "the French market remains difficult and sales mainly take place at the end of the week. Moreover, high temperatures are not helping reverse the downward trend observed since the beginning of the campaign."
"The premium product could give new life to the sector, especially because the assortment tends to expand in this range of seasonal products," the CNIPT stated. They also stated that the first French harvests were progressing as expected and that the volumes harvested should increase starting next week, which should allow supplying the market with different offers. "The high temperatures there's been in recent weeks have forced us to water the crops on certain plots earlier than usual," the CNIPT added.
Regarding exports, the CNIPT stated that the enthusiasm for quality products, especially consumer potatoes, continued. "The countries of Eastern Europe and Italy are buying the product. Israel could also start buying again.”
The situation of the other campaigns in Europe
The Interbranch organization's report also analyses the situation of the potato campaign in other Community producer countries for weeks 16 and 17.
In Portugal, the early potato harvest continues. "The quality is good and the results satisfactory. In Ribatejo, the harvest of white potatoes has begun, but still in limited quantities. The rest of the main harvests will start in about 10 days. The wholesalers are importing the last trucks from France and Spain, waiting for the Portuguese harvest to grow."
In Italy the current insignificant volumes of local early potatoes do not allow to satisfy the demand of the market. In addition, their price is very high. "Thus, Italian operators have continued to import early potatoes from Egypt, an origin that is normally replaced by the local production starting the end of April."
According to the CNIPT, the product that is currently marketed in Spain mainly comes from Israel and Egypt. "The cessation of shipments to Russia and Ukraine has increased the volume of these potatoes in Europe and they are competing with Spanish potatoes. Buyers are also increasingly focusing on new season potatoes (Spanish or imported). ”
Source: cnipt.fr / agrodigital.com