The Polish potato sector is heading for a record low harvest this year. Now that more and more harvesters are taking action, practice confirms this picture. Normally, with an increase in supply, the price falls. This year, however, the pressure is less and the market price continues to hold.
As a rule of thumb, Polish potato prices on the open table potato market systematically fall during September and October due to an increasing supply. Polish potato growers are in good shape in terms of mechanization, but usually do not have sufficient storage options.
Price holds up
The Polish research institute IERiGÅ» expects that the price could still fall by 30% to 40% in the next 2 months, but the level will remain at a relatively high level. The national average market price was €37 per 100 kilos at the beginning of September. This makes the price twice as high compared to a year earlier, when the situation was already tight in terms of supply. Depending on the region, the market price fluctuates between €27 and €44 per 100 kilos. The year started with €40 per 100 kilos, which means that hardly any has been returned since the beginning of July.
The IERiGÅ» estimates the total Polish potato harvest (including starch) at 7,32 million tons. A decrease of 150.000 tons compared to last year and even a million tons less than in the previous season. On average, hectare yields do not exceed 23 tons per hectare, although the results are very variable. Areas that received some rain in the summer are sometimes in better shape. However, in many regions the situation can be described as dramatic.
Juggling with numbers
It is difficult to get a good idea of the actual harvest. Previously, a volume of 6,51 million tons was recorded named. There are major differences between government figures, research figures and insider figures.
The Polish processing industry is trying to survive with potatoes from Western Europe, which are currently in sufficient supply. McCain, in the southwest, and Farm Frites/Aviko in the north can shift volumes. It is more difficult for Polish manufacturers such as Fritar and Intersnack to have sufficient potatoes. The starch sector faces similar problems.
Quality problems
In addition to the low yield, there is the quality that poses challenges. The grading is fine and late varieties sometimes suffer from washing-out problems, causing rot in storage and low underwater weights. In plots that are not affected by this, the underwater weight is very high.
Contract potatoes
Potato growers who grow chip potatoes under contract are in dire straits for the second year. The contract prices are very low, up to €8 per 100 kilos. There are no excess kilos, which means that these companies once again earn nothing. As a result, some growers are taking extreme measures to sell the contracted potatoes on the open market to stay afloat.
The wheat, rapeseed and maize harvest is also dramatically poor, coupled with a low market price. Anyone who does not have free expensive products to sell speaks of a catastrophe.