The potato market in Europe and the United Kingdom is under increasing pressure. Growers and traders report declining demand, surpluses, and declining quality, partly due to prolonged storage and warm weather. The economic situation is also putting pressure on consumption, particularly in the foodservice sector.
In an interview with the BBC, British growers Luke Ablett and Matthew Grindling of Isle of Ely Produce Limited confirmed that the market has virtually ground to a halt. "It's like someone has hit the brakes," said Ablett, who grows over 160 hectares of potatoes in Cambridgeshire. Grindling has noticed a decline in the fish and chipssector, causing many growers to store their potatoes longer than usual in the hope of higher prices. "That often backfires, because quality comes under pressure with long-term storage."
According to Andrew Crook, president of the National Federation of Fish Friers, the sector is struggling with higher costs and tight consumer spending. "Sales prices have to go up, while customers have less to spend. That's slowing demand."
Weak consumption puts European potato market under pressure
Consumers are increasingly opting for light meals like salads in the summer, which is detrimental to potato consumption. The situation is also mixed in Ireland. According to the Irish Farmers' Association (IFA), the market for processing potatoes is currently subdued. However, demand for early varieties remains stable. Meanwhile, the supply of the new harvest from the northeast is slowly starting to arrive.
On the European mainland, domestic markets are also weak. Export demand remains limited, and many regions are experiencing drought, despite recent rainfall. Only parts of Belgium and Germany saw significant local rainfall. Growers who held potatoes in stock for long-term storage are struggling to sell them. Buyers of varieties suitable for frying are now focusing on the upcoming new harvest, further eroding confidence in old stocks.