The movement on the potato market comes mainly from the lower end of the quality spectrum. The quotations for Fontane in particular are pulling the leg. This can be seen in the DCA Spot Price for French Fries Potatoes.
In the Netherlands we still do not have our own official potato quotation. The fact that the parties of PotatoNL have still not reached an agreement is now becoming rather worrying. We have already missed the boat for the off-land period and that is now also threatening to happen for the second half of the season. Fortunately, the other countries of the EU-4 do have prices on the board.
After Belgapom raised the price of Fontane from €12,50 to €15, Viaverda/Fiwap also pulled up the bottom and put €15 to €17 on the board last week. RNM from France also came up with a price increase for Fontane and added €2 to €15. Innovator rose by €3 to €21 in France. Reka from Germany kept the prices stable last Friday and put €16 on the board for Fontane, €21 for Agria and €25 for Innovator.
Quality is paid
That Innovator is in the lead is perhaps telling for the current potato market. Whether the price is high enough after the (locally) very challenging growing season is of course food for discussion. But with €10 difference between Fontane and Innovator, the processing industry makes it clear that it is prepared to pay a nice extra for quality varieties.
The DCA Spot Price French Fries potatoes has increased by €0,75 to €17,36 per 100 kilos. The range is relatively wide with €20,25 as average input from Germany and €15 from France.
If we extend the line in the Spot Price to the Spot Price French Fries Potatoes Forward (SFF), it is noticeable that the prices at the current level are lagging behind the contracts. The average contract price in the Netherlands for Fontane delivery week 17 is €27,12 and for week 26-27 at €29,28. The SFF remains stuck at €20,36 for delivery April with the latest input.