Potato processors are running at full speed throughout Europe. In France it is no different. The French fries producers have so far processed a record amount of potatoes. Due to the low availability of potatoes, French buyers have to look elsewhere in Europe for sufficient raw material.
At the end of last year, the French potato processing organization GIPT published the figures for November. In the current processing season, 1 tons of potatoes had been processed until 574.000 December. The vast majority of this comes from contract potatoes. At 44.000 tons, the volume of free potatoes is relatively small this season. Yet the five-year average is 'only' 9% higher.
43% more imported
The imported volume of potatoes, 113.000 tons, is head and shoulders above this season's statistics. That is no less than 43% more than was imported last season and a quarter more than the five-year average. Especially in Belgium and the Netherlands, French processors have bought potatoes; and a little bit in Germany.
According to the NEPG, France harvested 5,95 million tons of consumption potatoes last year. That is 8% less than the five-year average. The lowest yield in 22 years despite a slightly increasing acreage. On the other hand, the demand for fries and other potato products is excellent.
Price holds up
A logical consequence of less supply and more demand is that the (potato) price rises. The potato market in France is not yet following that logic. For Fontane, €25 per 100 kilos remains unchanged. Insiders report that processors are especially busy capturing Innovator and Markies. Good quality is especially important, because after the erratic growing season of 2022, it sometimes leaves something to be desired. Growers are sometimes surprised by rejection on the basis of poor quality, reports growers association UNPT.
In November, the French factories processed 120.000 tons of potatoes. That is 40.000 tonnes more than in 2021 and a record. Given the healthy demand on the world market, the last month of 2022 will also be followed by a positive figure.
Bal is with import potatoes
If the French processors want to maintain the current pace, they will have to search diligently for enough potatoes to keep lines from coming to a standstill. The question is to what extent they can turn to their 'own' growers for this. There is also little to be gained across the border in Belgium, because the growing season there was not much better. Product from the Netherlands and Germany is then the only one that can meet the demand, but these flows have their own logistical challenges. Judging by the import figures, however, it is not impossible.
At the same time, the French are not the only ones who can use potatoes. It puts further pressure on the European chip potato market. This pressure is now particularly noticeable on the potato futures market, where a step up was taken in the first week of the new year.