Growers' organization North-Western European Potato Growers (NEPG) also expects a growth of the acreage for consumption potatoes in Northwestern Europe for the 2020 harvest. This increases the fear of overproduction again.
In the last 5 years, the potato area in the EU-5 countries has increased by 9% to 563.000 hectares, the organization reports. More potatoes were planted in 2019, especially in France and Belgium. Growers are exchanging sugar beets for potatoes. Because more livestock farms are closing down, more land becomes available. In the Netherlands, for example, this means an expansion of potato cultivation in sandy areas.
Industry sits back
Thanks to a greater supply, the processing industry is leaning back, the NEPG concludes. According to the organization, growers will not be compensated for the additional costs in the new contracts. It therefore calls on arable farmers to be alert. Processors indeed expect more demand for cultivation contracts wrote Boerenbusiness before.
According to the organization, this alertness is appropriate. The 2019 season brought higher harvesting and storage costs. In addition, there are more storage losses. For the upcoming season, a cost price increase of 3 cents per kilo is expected, due to higher costs for haulm killing, sprout inhibition and increased labor costs.
Average harvest
Ultimately, the drought meant that the harvest of 26,9 million tons in the EU-5 was only average. According to the NEPG, approximately 5.600 hectares to 11.200 hectares of potatoes still need to be harvested. This corresponds to 1% to 2% of the total area. The potatoes are holding up well in storage. There are more problems with aging and the baking color. Export is average to good.