The upward trend of the past few months in the processing of potatoes is not continuing. Fewer potatoes were processed in February than a month earlier, according to Vavi figures. It is striking that Dutch processors have processed considerably more foreign potatoes. How is that possible?
A total of 288.300 tons of potatoes were processed in February. That is 23.900 tons - or 8% - less than in January. At that time, 312.200 tons of potatoes were still processed. Compared to February 2020, the decline is even greater, at approximately 13%. At that time, 331.700 tons were still processed.
More foreign potatoes processed
The share of potatoes from imports increased in February. This concerns 107.600 tons. This means that almost 40% of all processed potatoes have been imported. Last month that was still 93.000 tons. A year earlier, the foreign volume was around 30%.
A possible explanation for the decline in processing and the shift to importing potatoes may be the price of Dutch potatoes. In the second half of February, the PotatoNL rose to €10 per 100 kilos. The Belgian PCA quotation did not exceed €8 per 100 kilos in the same period.
Lower return
Of the total potato volume, 129.400 tons of pre-fried fries were cut. A year earlier this was almost 23.000 tons more. The processing efficiency of the industry was 53,4%. That was 54,1% a year earlier.