The New European Potato Harvest Tailors a Way onto the Market

In mid-May, many European potato growers expected the season to end with prices around EUR30/100kg, but rains dashed their hopes. Processors quit purchasing old crop potatoes a few weeks ago, and some even sold contracts they have no use for to other processors.

According to a NEPG report, the new harvest is already making its way into the market, while the old harvest has yet to be realized.

Potatoes from the new crop, whether early varieties (primarily in Germany and Belgium) or main varieties, grow rapidly and develop well. Tubers of early varieties appear 1-2 weeks earlier than usual (the number of spuds is lower than before), and the first signs of aging are observed in some early variety locations (where less precipitation fell and higher temperatures were recorded).

Some major crop fields have bloomed earlier than usual, implying that potential output may be lower. Irrigation efficiency is lower than usual (in Germany, France, and the Netherlands, where it is widely used), and partial watering is avoided or postponed due to high energy prices.

Weather variations (heat, heavy rains, drought) in the past, present, and future may present a few more surprises in the coming days or weeks, affecting the final harvest and tuber quality.

Tuber production costs, which have been rising steadily over the past 12 months, will affect acreage and production in 2023.

As shown by preliminary data, the total area of potatoes in the EU-04 zone (Belgium, Germany, France, and the Netherlands) increased by 2% in all four countries, totaling 507,300 hectares, a plus of 10,100 hectares. In late winter and early spring, it was predicted that the area would shrink by 2022 due to higher production costs. Some starch producers (in Germany, France, and the Netherlands) and fresh potato producers (in Germany and France) are shifting to other potato processing.