Switch to German new potatoes expected this week

As is usual in Germany, the older cold-stored products are currently being packaged (from all three varieties). The quality of these reasonably priced commodities is good. The demand of consumers in Mecklenburg Vorpommern is correspondingly large. In the coming week, a complete switch to German new potatoes from the Breisgau and from the area of Hannover is expected. Residual quantities of Egyptian and Spanish new potatoes are also still being traded this week. Spanish goods currently cost around 50 EUR/dt. Predominantly firm-cooking potatoes from the Breisgau are going for 40 EUR/dt. Hard boiling tubers cost 2 EUR/dt more. Peeling continues with the older stocks at the same stable prices from last week.

Brandenburg
Old German warehouse potatoes are hardly to be found in the assortment of local retail chains. This week, mainly Spanish and Israeli new potatoes are being packaged, as well as the first pretzels from the Palatinate. Actually, the vast majority of the pack should already come this week from the Palatinate. This product is now offered for the weekend in the retail chains, some already as promotional items. The price differences between the origins are enormous. For the German new potatoes are demanded by the 40 EUR / dt. The price for Spanish goods is still a good 10 EUR / dt higher. Here and there it has rained in recent days, but sometimes only small amounts. On the sandy soils in this country, the growth of potatoes is progressing only hesitantly. The peeled potatoes prices remain at the previous week level.

Saxony
In this region German cold stored goods from the harvest of 2017 are still being packaged. All three groups of varieties are still available, of good quality. For storage potatoes in the premium sector, only remaining quantities are available. The ageing goods are constantly in demand by the retail chains. Price levels for the German cold stored goods remains stable at last week's level. Spanish new potatoes are also packaged. The Spanish goods will disappear this week, to be replaced by German early potato from the Palatinate. Market participants report quiet sales, typical for this point in the season. The prices for peeled potatoes remain at last week's levels.

Saxony-Anhalt
The share of old German storage potatoes in the packaging sector is now really negligible. In part, sales of this product has unexpectedly flared up again. It is qualitatively good and cheap and is therefore bought often by the consumer. Some of these are residual quantities from seed potato production. In the meantime, only German new potatoes are accepted on the domestic market. In some regions there has been more rain, but elsewhere it is still too dry. Thus, very different growth conditions are in play, that can lead to very differentiated revenue levels. There are no price changes on the peeled potatoes market compared to last week.

Thuringia
The supply of domestic cold stored goods is running out, and in some cases local packers have completely switched to new potatoes. German new potatoes are sourced from the Palatinate. Prices were at around 45 EUR/dt. For the coming week, a significant price decline for this product is expected. The offer of Spanish new potatoes is running out. Remaining quantities will be packed this week. Israeli new potatoes are also on offer. Their price level is 38 EUR/dt. The first, small quantities of new potatoes from Saxony-Anhalt are also available. They are still not quite the hard-boiling kind, but their marketing -through promotions- is expected to be swift. Potato sales remain subdued, at the current high price level. Peeled potatoes prices remain at the levels of last week.

Source: lallf mio