Shaking the tree does not release more potatoes

First there was a relatively significant dip in the March 18 market price of the PotatoNL category 1 listing by an average of €2,50. A transaction was entered on the PAT on Monday (March 18), of 375 tonnes of Fontane at €30. A transaction that stood out as most business was done at €35. This striking (market disrupting) transaction not only raised eyebrows but clearly caused some unrest. The subsequent Belgapom quotation for Fontane and Challenger remained unchanged at €35, but the subsequent 'lackluster' market mood later in the week intensified the unrest. Would the market make the way to a lower price level, say €30?

The effect of the threat of lower prices has often led to more supply in previous seasons, often resulting in a further decline in price levels. This season, judging by the recovery of the market and looking at the different quotations in the EU-4 countries, there appears to be no price decline in the potato market as yet.

Weather market
The fact is also that the threatened price drop (shaking the tree) did not result in more supply, the market was and remained balanced despite the relatively high level. In fact, the element of a possible relatively late spring will also play a role given the weather forecasts. Of course, potatoes have been and will be planted across Europe as soon as possible, but the bulk still has to be planted. If there is actually a delay with the start of the 2024/25 season, tensions could increase again. After all, the storage season is far from over.

The question is whether the price explosion of last season will be repeated (Belgapom week 27 at €60), processors have been able to prepare in recent months and have been able to learn (or so you can assume) from the (recent) past. It is already clear that the 2023 harvest year will again go down as memorable.