Due to the large supply of both seed and consumption potatoes, as a result of the abundant harvest in 2017, market prices have been at an extremely low level for some time.
Avebe has been working hard to process their starch potatoes for some time now. The campaign normally runs until the end of April, but Avebe now intends to continue for 2 weeks longer. The campaign may therefore continue until mid-May. This possibility is being investigated by also processing supplies of non-starch potatoes.
Also in Germany
The possibility of extending the campaign is also being investigated in Emlichheim, Germany. Much depends on the pricing (very low) of residual lots and the certainty of delivery. This would include table potatoes for which there is no market. However, this may also involve surpluses of seed potatoes of unpopular varieties.
Insiders estimate that if the German and Dutch starch factories stay up a few weeks longer, this will create 100.000 to 200.000 tons of space in the market. Given the current low price level, growers at an acceptable distance from the factory would show interest in supplying slightly different batches. This is because tare and rejection chances are significantly lower than with a chip processor.