The French potato stock is at a very low level. This is apparent from the most recent potato stock figures from growers' organization UNPT. It remains to be seen whether the French potato processors have sufficient stock to reach the end of the season.
According to the panel of grower organization UNPT, 1 million tons of table and chip potatoes were still in stock on March 2017, 1,58. Calculated with an average tare percentage of 8 percent, this means 1,46 million tons of net product. Only in 2007 and 2013 were the potato stocks even lower.
Last year the potato stock was 1,615 million tons and in 2015 it was 1,96 million tons. In 'England Year' 2013, when the harvest in Europe was disappointing and many potatoes were sold to England at high prices, the gross production level was 1,44 million tons.
Area expansion nullified
How the last growing season went is a well-known story. The area expanded by more than 5 percent. The total harvest was estimated at 4,585 million tons.
The area expansion was thus canceled out. Of the total harvest, 34,5 percent was still in storage at the end of February. That percentage was still 2016 percent in 35,2. Only in 2013 was the percentage slightly lower, at 34,2 percent.
Significantly fewer free potatoes
Most potatoes are stored in the departments of Nord-Pas-De-Calais and Picardie. 708.000 and 568.000 tonnes respectively are stored there. The UNPT also distinguishes between table and chip potatoes. The total figure of 1,58 million tons is divided into 869.000 tons of chip potatoes and 711.000 tons of table potatoes.
On March 1, 43.450 tons of French fries potatoes were still available. That is considerably less than the 210.000 tons in 2016 and 250.000 tons in 2015. The vast majority of table potatoes are free. 552.000 tons are free compared to 159.000 tons sold.
Everything must be pulled out
The question now is: 'Can French potato processors survive on their own potatoes for the remainder of the season until they have connected with the new season?'
If we assume that all free potatoes are bought, then 4 tons will have to be used in 869.000 months. This amounts to an average of 217.250 tons per month. The French potato industry currently processes approximately 400.000 tons of product per month. This means that factories have to do everything they can to keep their lines running.
The end of the season is thus brought to a head. We already noticed this in 2013. If this becomes reality, the potato price still has a lot in store.