The pricing of the French fries potato variety Fontane is making big jumps. For a long time, the free potato price seemed set in stone. After Belgium, the French market is now also starting to move.
With the recently started second part of the storage season, the buying interest for Fontane in particular is increasing. This has resulted in an increase in the quotations for Fontane; relatively speaking, this is a hefty step up.
Price increase for Easter
The French RNM market price was €3 per 100 kilos for Fontane for months. On Tuesday March 27, a 'significant' step up was taken with € 4,50. The signs have already been visible in Belgium in recent weeks (with a PCA/Fiwap quote up to €4 last week). Belgapom followed later that week with the same prize.
For week 13, PCA/Fiwap quotes up to €5 per 100 kilos for Fontane. It also states that most business is done at this level. It is not inconceivable that Belgapom will also follow the trend before the Easter weekend and will put €5 on the plate for Fontane.
The reason for the price increase for the Fontane variety is the increasing demand. Varieties like Bintje, and especially Challenger, have quality problems. Buyers let Challenger run in favor of Fontane. Both Bintje and Challenger are still not quoted more than €3 per 100 kilos, as a result of the quality.
Soil remains stable
In order for the average quotations in Belgium and France to make a price jump, the lower end of the market must also move to a higher price level. With the Bintje and Challenger varieties, that seems difficult for the time being.
Growers with high-quality potatoes in the shed are strengthened by the development in the current market. However, this mainly applies to the Fontane variety. For the period, around the turn of the month from June-July, business has now been done for €9,50 per 100 kilos for the Fontane variety.