Innovator leading the way in the potato market

The market price depends on various factors. Such as 'when to deliver'. The current market price for delivery within two weeks is around €17,50 per 100 kilos. For delivery in the first weeks of 2022, the price will increase from €19,50 to €20 at the end of January to €21 per 100 kilos from the grower in mid-March. If business is done for delivery later in the season, you can ask the question when delivery will actually take place.

In that sense, the processors are keeping their cards close to their chest. In short: it is difficult to estimate how the various buyers are doing in the competition in terms of stock position. The shortest shot is to broadcast that there is sufficient supply in relation to demand, so that the market radiates a stable character. Only when one of the buyers takes action can others follow and the market can take the next step.

Corona continues to hang over the market
There is no clear signal for the coming weeks. Of course, the reporting about the new corona variant does not help with this. However, it is not the case that factories are running less due to all the ever-increasing corona issues. In fact; most factories in Europe continue to operate as normal around the holidays. In some cases it is not so much the supply of potatoes as the people (teams) that have to be deployed during the holiday period.

Not much change is expected in the current market picture for the first weeks of the new year. The supply at the bottom end of the market of a variety such as Fontane remains sufficient, especially if it concerns batches that are not or have not been treated with sprout inhibitors. The question remains what awaits next season in terms of price development. Assuming that the coronavirus no longer determines the news, a higher market price with spring in sight should still be possible.