EU potato production drops by 17% this year

Potato production among the five largest EU grower countries dropped by 17% this year, according to the Potato Council’s latest report.

At 22.3m tonnes, crops in Belgium, France, Germany, Great Britain and Holland were 10% below the five-year average. “All North-Western European Potato Growers (NEPG) member countries have experienced a challenging crop production season and extended harvest,” said the report. As of 22 November, about 5,000-8,000ha were still to be harvested in western Belgium and northern France. “All countries report smaller tuber sizes and greening as an issue, but overall the quality in store is good.”

In the UK, growers still had about 11% of the crop left to clear, but would probably leave most remaining crops over the winter. Tight supplies meant the GB weekly average price increased by £16.64/t in the week to 30 November, to £235.32/t – £130 more than the same time last year. The free-buy average rose by £23.17/t, to £327.10/t.

“Contracted stocks continued to account for most of the (packing and processing) movement, together with imports.” Export demand to the Canary Islands was strong, especially for parti-coloured varieties, which had become difficult to source. “King Edwards were mainly £370-£450/t, depending on specification and distance from port.”

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