The situation on the potato market in Europe is virtually the same everywhere. The market is under severe pressure due to a large harvest and reduced demand. However, there are noticeable differences between countries. The table potato market is also under pressure, although the situation is not comparable to that for French fry varieties. Drought is becoming an increasingly important issue. It is causing tension, but not (yet) leading to higher prices.
In the United Kingdom, the situation is largely comparable to mainland Europe. Dry, dry, and dry. This has been the case all season, especially in eastern England. That's precisely where most potatoes are grown. Growers have recently been forced to spray fields to kill the water, as otherwise the underwater weight would have risen significantly. However, thanks to frequent irrigation, yields are not bad.
Agria asked
The market has its own dynamics and therefore also pricing. The potato trade for fish & chipsThe shops are quiet, but reasonable prices are still being paid. Last week, Agria, among others, was selling for €25,50 per 100 kilos. This is for sorted and bagged product. For Sagitta, the price range is between €18,50 and €20. Prices for table potatoes fluctuate considerably. In-demand varieties, sorted and bagged, are still trading for prices above €20 to €23. Free potato lots of less-demand varieties usually don't go above €6 to €9.
This means the UK potato market is considerably higher than what we're used to in the Netherlands or elsewhere in the EU-4. €10 was paid for Agria ex-field here, with the caveat that the UK price includes sorted and packaged.
Similar prices are being paid for Agria in Spain. Growers receive €26 for top quality, which drops to €16 for lower-quality lots and the Colomba variety. According to government figures, the average grower price was €40,50 at the end of August, a third lower than a year ago. The main harvest in northern Spain (Castilla y León) is well underway.
Heat costs kilos and sales
The country is being plagued by heatwaves this year. Temperatures regularly reach 40 degrees Celsius, which is also affecting potato crops. Frequent irrigation is keeping the situation somewhat under control, but it is negatively impacting growth. This isn't an immediate disaster, as there are tons of them. More troubling is that the heat is also causing reduced consumption, which in turn is creating a weak market. Apparently, this also applies to Spanish growers. ladies bare also means trade death.
This trend is also evident in Portugal, France, and Germany. Over the entire season, table potato exports have been more than excellent, but the warm and sunny weather in June and July hasn't resulted in increased sales. Retailers, on the other hand, have sold fewer potatoes. Hopefully, this will be offset by higher French fry sales.
Disease pressure
After two years of extremely high disease pressure, growers in Western Europe have had relatively little to do with late blight this season. That's small consolation. Things are quite different in Poland, however. Locally, heavy downpours occasionally fell at the end of August. High humidity and temperatures sometimes cause the dreaded potato blight to spread rapidly. Problems with tuber phytophthora are also a risk at this stage of the season.
Yields aren't bad this year, but they are highly variable. Non-irrigated fields are simply disappointing. Polish potato growers are not happy with the market. Recorded market prices last month fluctuated between €14 and €21 for sorted and packaged produce. This barely covers costs. The market, especially for French fry potatoes, is completely unwilling. If there is any room at all, German companies are lining up to meet the demand. Last season, Polish potato imports rose by more than a fifth, to 187.500 tons. Germany supplied 112.000 tons of this, more than a third. The Netherlands also increased its potato supply.
Weak mood
The situation in European potato-producing countries is broadly similar, although there are definite differences in detail. Market prices are generally higher in neighboring countries, but appearances can be somewhat deceiving. For example, these are almost always sorted and packaged products, not gross product prices. The oversupply of potatoes is preventing any room for growth, leading to market sentiment being described as weak everywhere.