The potato processing industry keeps going. The processing figure for March once again exceeds 300.000 tons. The price dip in the potato futures market in March is therefore not reflected in the processing figures of the industry.
Potato processors processed 339.400 tons of potatoes in March, according to figures from the Association for the Potato Processing Industry (VAVI). That is 17.300 tons more than in the same month a year earlier. The processing figure for March 2022 is also 7.100 tonnes above the five-year average. In the current season, more potatoes were only processed in September and October - the field period.
152.800 pre-fried fries and 30.300 tons of other potato products were produced. The Dutch processors imported 114.800 tons of potatoes from abroad. This amounts to 33,8% of the total potatoes processed in March. In the same month a year earlier, that percentage was 34,8%. The processing efficiency is 53,9%. The season total is 2.617.200 tons. In terms of volume, the processors have thus far surpassed the 2019 harvest year. More potatoes were only processed in the 2016/2017 and 2017/2018 seasons.