Potato processors in France have processed a large volume of potatoes in recent months, despite the corona crisis. This mainly concerns contracted tons. The processed volume is even in the top 3 of the last 7 years.
Figures from the French potato processing organization GIPT show that this season, 1 tons of potatoes have been processed in the country until November 381.000. That is 8,6% less than on this date last year. That is still a significant volume, but more was processed in 2018 and 2019.
The vast majority of processed potatoes are contracted products. A total of 293.000 tons. Never before has this been so much. It is therefore no surprise that the volume of free potatoes that have been processed is actually very small. Only 22.000 tons and that is 35% less than last year. In addition, another 66.000 tons of potatoes were imported.
Long Christmas holidays
The level of potato processing is expected to decline in the last 2 months of the year. The demand for potato products has decreased as a result of new restrictions due to the coronavirus and resulting declining consumption. Factories also close their doors earlier and longer during the Christmas period.