"NL: "Potato export not great"

Potato export is decreasing. This is according to Piet Bogers of Agridor, who has been in the potato trade for over 60 years. Piet is now 81, but still involved daily in the trade with Europe, Africa and Russia as main sales areas. But Piet finds it hard to give a prognosis on the potato market. "On the whole it's just not great. The potato market lacks energy."

"Russia is only buying special potatoes, like the washed potatoes. The normal potatoes are barely going to Russia, but the cold weather might change that", says Piet. "Countries like Spain, Portugal and Italy buy most from the French market. All in all, I can't see the situation improving in the first few months."

Aridor has had its own location in Russia for seven years. "Our Russian department also reports that the prices for potatoes is on the low side. The sales price to the supermarkets is on a level around 5/6 (roebel) per kilo, which is around 125 Euro per ton, including all costs", says Piet. "There won't be much improvement for February, but the expectation is that March or maybe April or May might bring better export possibilities."

"The export to Africa is also decreasing slightly. We've not had a bad export season in Africa, but that's decreasing a little now. We read about the protests in Senegal in the newspapers daily, and this could have consequences for the export", says the potato trader. "On the other hand these low prices allow us to export to countries like Africa."

"There is a floor in the market, because 'flakes' are sold for 30 to 35 Euro per ton. The factories have enough supply, but if we only supply the industry, the prices will never go up!" For the nice table potatoes, which are meant for the home market and not for export, a better price is paid, says Piet.

Bogers says the quality of the potatoes isn't that great. "Especially in Belgium, but there are also Dutch parties that aren't suitable for export. Then the potatoes are sometimes in containers for three of four weeks. All in all the quality is very precarious and the question is how it will maintain itself during the rest of the season." The trader is more positive about the far future. "We heading towards a new harvest and the grain prices remain reasonably high. That's why it's expected that less potatoes will be planted."

For more information:
Agridor Holland BV
Postbus 60
4690 AB Tholen
Tel: +31 166602635 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting +31 166602635 end_of_the_skype_highlighting
Fax: +31 166912651
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www.agridor.com