Potato processor Clarebout has presented its contract prices for the 2024 growing season. Depending on the variety and the delivery period, the contract price increases to almost three euros. The biggest challenge for the Belgian-French processor is also the availability of seed potatoes.
At the end of last week, just after the first factory opened its doors contracts came out, Clarebout also presented the prizes for the 2024/25 season. In an accompanying letter, the company immediately lists the challenges for this year. And in particular the shortage of sufficient seed potatoes. More cut seed potatoes must also be delivered in order to have sufficient starting material.
Prices above 30 euros
The season starts in mid-August with a price of €22 per 100 kilos for Innovator. During the harvesting of the main harvest in September that is €20. €18 is then paid for Fontane. In week 17, Clarebout will no longer purchase Innovator (the delivery period runs until March 30). €27 is paid out for Fontane and Challenger. Marquis is slightly above that at €28,25. The season ends at the end of June with a price of €29,50 for Fontane and €31,25 for Marquis.
This marks the first time that Clarebout pays out more than €30 in contracts. Growers who store their potatoes in mechanical cooling get paid something extra. Fontane is then at €30 and Marquis even at €32.
Price ex-country the same
The prices mentioned are higher across the board. The season starts with an increase of €1,50 compared to last year. In September, Clarebout kept the prices the same, but in week 17 Fontane and Challenger are €2,15 higher and Marquis €2,10. Week 26 the price difference for that variety is €2,95. Fontane is €2,50 higher that week.
Clarebout pays the prices mentioned for 35 millimeters upwards. There is also an obligation to record a minimum of 30 tons per hectare in the tonnage contract. This is especially important for the delivery of the seed potatoes. To this end, the company also looks at the history with the grower and his area.
Seed potato prices
Last season you paid €58 per 100 kilos for a full load (30 tons) of loose Fontane 35/50 millimeters, this year it is €110 for the size 35/45 millimeters. Beyond that, the company only supplies cut sizes, which have a considerable price difference. For example, you pay €45 for Fontane 50/70 and €50 for 55/58 with a full load. With cut seed potatoes, the price is also almost cut in half. At Innovator and Markies the 34/45 price increases from €53 to €110 and the same size difference applies.
If we assume 2.400 kilos of 35/45 Fontane seed potatoes per hectare, the price difference with last season is €1.248 per hectare in starting material (€2.640 now compared to €1.392 last year). At 50 tons per hectare, the costs are €25 per ton higher. We can therefore conclude that the increases in the contract price largely compensate for these additional costs, or that the new prices are slightly higher. If we assume the cheaper cut seed potatoes (at 2.500 kilos per hectare), the costs this year are €1.750 per hectare. It is difficult to make a difference with last year because the company itself did not use cut seed potatoes.