It is quite quiet in the potato trade at the moment. According to Bart Nemegheer of the Aardappelhoeve, there are some parties that are difficult to store and scour early. This is putting pressure on the price. The trade is expected to be calm until New Year. The export possibilities will come, but will have to be awaited. Everything is behind the shelves here. Apparently there's more still in the field in Holland than there is here. We were almost done, just before the rain. There was still some on the field, and we could have gone for those last few tonnes per hectare, but there are unforeseeable risks in doing that."
Difficult to store parties
According to the trader the prices are lower than they were last week. "Due to the wide supply of difficult to store parties, the price is decreasing slightly everywhere. The reports about these lesser parties are coming from various corners, such as France, Belgium, Holland and Germany. These are parties that start to rot after they scour. This is a combination of several factors: some damage during harvest, high temperatures and abundant rain are ideal temperatures for making potatoes rot."
Bart expects little change in the market over the next few week. "We're now heading towards the end of the year, and there won't be much movement this year. After the New Year I think some more export markets might open. There are various countries in the east where the yields are lower and they will be on the market. Russia may also open its doors. It has been said there may be a break through and a trade agreement soon. Let's hope so."
Organic
The yield of organic potatoes is good in Holland and Belgium. It isn't as good in Germany and they are expected to be on the market after New Year. They won't be able to supply their own market due to the bad harvest. They usually export a lot of organic, but this year they will need it all themselves, and will even demand more. Germany is traditionally the largest market for organic potatoes."
Organic
The yield of organic potatoes is good in Holland and Belgium. It isn't as good in Germany and they are expected to be on the market after New Year. They won't be able to supply their own market due to the bad harvest. They usually export a lot of organic, but this year they will need it all themselves, and will even demand more. Germany is traditionally the largest market for organic potatoes."
For more information:
Bart Nemegheer
De Aardappelhoeve
Putterijstraat 7A
8700 Tielt - België
T: +32-477 291784
F: +32- 514 09501
www.deaardappelhoeve.com