Both the processing of industrial potatoes and the potato stock are at a historically high level in France this spring. The majority of the potatoes that growers still had in stock at the beginning of last month are permanently in stock at French fries producers.
According to potato growers' organization UNPT, French growers still had 1 million tons of potatoes in stock until April 1,67. That is 40.000 tons more than a year earlier and 333.000 tons more than 2020. Of this volume, 70% is intended for the processing industry - mainly for fries. In addition to our own processing, many potatoes also cross the Belgian border.
Of this volume of chip potatoes of 1,18 million tons, 88% is fixed under contract. This means that the free stock is smaller than last season (204.200 tons), but larger than in 2020 (104.340 tons). This is different with table potatoes. Most of these were still without copper at the beginning of last month. Almost 90% had not been sold at the time.
Record high processing figures
Relative to Numbers from February, the total potato stock has shrunk by 727.500 tons. French processors processed 124.000 tons of potatoes in April. That is 20% more than in April 2021. In the current processing season, from July to the end of April, 1,1 million tons of potatoes were processed. 14% more than a season earlier and that is a record. By far the largest part concerns contract potatoes. Good for almost 850.000 tons. France also imported 145.000 tons.
The old processing record in France was 1,04 million tons. That was in the 2018-2019 season. In the two subsequent seasons, the volume was lower, partly as a result of the corona crisis. What is also clear from the figures from processing organization GIPT is that considerably more free potatoes have been purchased this season. The volume is 111.000 tons.
Season completely over
If we continue the current processing and export figures, the potato sector will have twelve weeks from the last stock measurement to process and export the old harvest. We know from the French industry that processing in April was very good and we can therefore actually expect a higher figure. In three months, the sector must remove 558.146 tons per month. With a processing and export of 727.500 tons, this is no problem at all. Stretching the old season with these figures is therefore difficult.
Especially in Northern France, where most French fries potatoes grow drought an issue. There are no major objections to the main harvest yet in the potato market. The legs are smoothly rounded. Growers with early potatoes are more concerned about drought. They expect that the potatoes will take longer to produce and will yield fewer kilos. This can delay the transition from the old to the new harvest. In practice, some contracts are pushed back, although the majority are collected on time, insiders report.