Northern European potato market current status
In Belgium, according to Filière Wallone de la Pomme de Terre (FIWAP), Bintje variety processing prices were £24-£27/t w/e 16 March. Movement is dominated by contracted supplies and by loads from problem stores (due to fry colour and bacterial rot). At the start of February, 52% of production was in store compared to 49% last season, of which 40% of stock is already sold. Stocks are approximately 375,000t higher than last year.
In the Netherlands, according to the VTA, the processing price was £31-44/t w/e 16 March. Most store quality is reasonable, but there is continued movement of poor stored quality (poor fry colours, sprouting and bacterial rot), with significant volumes directed to starch or biogas markets. There has been renewed interest in exports to Eastern Europe and Southern Europe, but this currently has not had a significant impact on prices. For the fresh market, prices vary between £58/t (€70) and £124/t (€150) depending on the variety and quality.
According to Phaff Export Marketing, 284,700t were processed in Dutch processing plants in January compared to 290,800t in 2011.
In Germany, according to REKA, processing prices were £29-£33/t. Free-buy movement is slow, with more stores moving poorer quality supplies. Fresh potato prices are £85/t (€102) for waxy and £78/t (€95) for floury.
Early plantings under plastic in southern Baden-Württemberg and in the Palatinate regions are complete. In the Rhineland planting has started, while in Lower Saxony, with soil heavier and wetter, planting has been delayed.
According to Agrarmarkt Informations-Gesellschaft (AMI) German consumers bought 2.3% fewer ware potatoes in the past year, compared to 2010.
In France, according to the Union Nationale des Producteurs de Pommes de Terre (UNPT), processing prices were £25/t w/e 16 March (Bintje). Since the start of the season the fresh market has had steady prices for quality stock, with prices for lower quality under pressure. There has been a slight increase in consumption in the domestic market.
Exports from 01 August to 31 December 2011 were over 187,000t (27%) less than last year (see Table 1). Belgium and Italy have both seen reductions, but more significantly eastern countries are 80% lower than last season when there was a significant increase in demand from Russia. The figures are also 60% lower than the three year average.
Export values for the period August to December decreased by 55% year on year, at €73.7m in 2011/12, compared to €162.6m last year and €81.2m in 2009/10.
Net stocks at the end of January were at 1.993Mt, up 15% compared to January 2011. Production was 790,000t higher than last year, but stocks only increased by 355,000t. This is attributed to higher processing activities, and movement of poor storage stocks.
According to the latest figures from GIPT, 602,000t of potatoes were processed in French factories from July 2011 to January 2012, compared to 626,000t in July 2010 to January 2011, and 539,000t from July 2009 to January 2010. This is 3.8% less than the same period in 2011, but up 11.7% from 2010.
In other countries
In Portugal, according to the West Professional Horticulture Association hundreds of hectares of potato production were ‘partially destroyed’ by drought and frosts in western Portugal. 1,000-1,500 of the 2,500 hectares of potato crop in several villages of the Lourinhã province are affected.
In Spain, according to FreshPlaza Spain, figures for the extra early harvest show that the production area has increased by 6.9% to 3,445ha. Just under half of this is Andalusia (1,700ha). The area on the Canary Islands is unchanged compared to last year (1,050ha). The increase in the total area is likely to be the result of favourable autumn and winter weather conditions.
However according to Efeagro crop areas have been reduced by 20% in Andalusia. Recent frosts are causing concern on Mallorca and other early regions. In Castilla and Leon, drought is causing concerns amongst producers about to start planting, as they could face irrigation problems.
In Switzerland, according to the Association of Swiss Potato Producers, in 2011 11,179ha was planted, up 3% on 2010. According to preliminary data this has resulted in production of 511,800t. That was 91,000t (24%) more than the year before. The average yield amounted to 45.5t/ha. The main varieties are Agria (2,442ha), Charlotte (1,759ha) and Victoria (788ha). The large harvest is challenging with Swiss farmers producing a surplus well above the market demand. The country imported 2,450t of seed potatoes, 9,910t of fresh potatoes, and 9,910t of potatoes for processing in 2011.
In Canada, according to the PEI Potato Board, there may some good to come out of the Prince Edward Island potato shortage - higher prices for produce, according to the president of the island's potato board. There is a 10% drop in potatoes in storage nationwide, compared to last year. For the island there is a drop of around 30% in availability for the fresh market.
In Ukraine, according to GIPT, exports of chips have grown by 40% since 2009 to nearly 7,000t in 2011. Russia is the main export market for chips from Ukraine (63% in 2011). Given the abundant harvest in 2011, supply is ample but low prices of the current campaign may encourage some producers to turn to other crops.