French stock of free potatoes minimum

The total stock of potatoes at the end of January, including the table segment, would amount to 1,99 million tons, according to UNPT figures. Of the total gross harvest (4.585 million tons), 43,5% would still be in stock. Last season at the end of January, the total stock of potatoes amounted to 2.143 million tons, 45,3% of the total gross potato harvest in 2015. In the very poor season 2014/2015, the stock of potatoes was set at 2,6 million tons. The current stock (1,99 million tons) is comparable to the figure in January 2013 (2012 harvest) when a lot of potatoes were exported to England (crop failure).

Striking about the current French potato market, but can be explained in view of the stock figures, is that the market price is not under as much pressure as, for example, the movement of the futures market suggests. On Tuesday, February 29, the French RNM quoted for Bintje €23,50 and for Fontane €24,50 per 100 kg, €1,00 less than the week before.