Seed potato trading house Agrico announced the average indicator price for seed potatoes today (Wednesday 4 May). For the second year in a row, corona has taken a heavy toll on the seed potato market. Nevertheless, the provisional price is considerably higher than last year.
The indicative price for the 2021 harvest is €31 per 100 kilos. This price is an average of all supplied varieties, sizes and classes. The price is therefore 24% higher than last year, but not yet at the record level of the 2018 harvest. Corona also had a strong impact on the seed potato market last season. According to the cooperative, finding sufficient containers in time was quite a challenge. "Given the current market situation and the challenges surrounding shipments, we have fortunately been able to get almost all seed potatoes sold to the right destination," says general manager Jan van Hoogen in the message. "As Agrico, we have done everything we can to achieve what was possible for our members this planting season."
But it was not only corona that made the seed potato season difficult. Due to Brexit, much less seed potatoes were shipped to England and the war in Ukraine caused a large increase in prices for grains, fertilizers and fuels, among other things. The sale of oversized seed potatoes for consumption is becoming difficult due to the ban on sprout inhibitors. In particular, exports to distant destinations - where the potatoes are in transit for several weeks - after New Year's Eve are dropped.
Sales targets achieved
Agrico is nevertheless satisfied with sales. With the exception of one destination (Bangladesh), the cooperative has achieved the expected sales everywhere. The seed potatoes that were actually intended for Bangladesh have found their way to other markets. The last potatoes for the industry in Northwest Europe are currently being delivered. Here too, sales have been successful so far. There was a lot of demand for the Fontane and Markies varieties and they are almost sold out. Sales to Algeria have grown considerably compared to the previous season, because the Algerian government has significantly increased the import quota. The Arizona variety had the largest increase in volume and Agrico expects the demand for this variety to grow further. There is demand for Arizona not only from Algeria, but also from countries such as Egypt, Iraq and Sudan. The area of this variety will be further expanded in the coming years.