Analysis Potatoes
French Processing Discovers the 'Clarebout Effect'
Until recently, Belgium was the wonder of the potato world, but that title now perhaps belongs to neighbouring France. Processing there has increased by no less than a quarter this season. The reason for that does come from Belgium: the Clarebout effect.
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Choose the subscription that suits youThe processing lines in France are pumping out tons of golden fries day after day. There is no shortage of product to be processed, which is why a significant increase in production is shown. According to the most recent figures from the trade association GIPT – up to March – show that no less than 25% more potatoes have been processed. Good for 248.000 tons and also a new record.
Capacity number
For years, the French potato processing industry has been under construction and has always been in stark contrast to the Netherlands and especially Belgium. With the arrival of Clarebout's new factory in Dunkirk, the industry has suddenly gained a lot of capacity. This is clearly reflected in the figures. This success story cannot be attributed entirely to one company alone. The other processors, who have been active for much longer, have also renewed or expanded their lines behind the scenes.
The refinement of the type of potatoes processed this season is striking. It concerns more than 930.000 tons of contract potatoes. That is 186.000 tons more than in the previous season and almost double in eight seasons. With 53.000 tons of free potatoes, that volume has halved – compared to 2023-24. Factories have therefore bought relatively few free potatoes and only taken in the so-called 'joint delivery kilos'.
In addition, another 250.000 tons were imported, compared to 135.000 tons the season before. An increase of no less than 85%. This means that it is not only the Belgians who process more potatoes in France, but it also concerns potatoes with that origin.
Considerably more stock
This high import is remarkable when you compare it to the stock figures of the growers' organization UNPT. According to them, on the reference date of February 1, 3,24 million tons of consumption potatoes were still in stock at growers. That is 16,5% more or 460.000 tons. A separation between chips and table potatoes was not given, but it is clear that the vast majority of the volume concerns chips potatoes. This is the largest stock ever in the country. Even more than in the corona year, when almost 3 million tons were stored on that reference date.
Apparently, processors chose to import potatoes in the first half of the season instead of processing French potatoes. The high stock figures may be partly the result of disappointing French fry sales, although this cannot be proven entirely given the large processing volume. The purchase of free lots also does not indicate that factories chose these potatoes. This must be sought mainly in the large import volume. Belgium and France, despite a difficult growing season, still had a reasonable production, which means that the processors now have more than enough product at their disposal.
The sales market for end products remains uncertain, with insiders clearly reporting (strongly) lower sales prices for fries. The second half of the current season could therefore have consequences for next year. For example, when a lot of stocks are built up. There is already clearly more European competition due to the lower sales outside our continent. The strongly increased processing capacity and production are currently not in proportion to the sales of products worldwide.
