The Potato Market in the EU Shows Slow Improvement

The EU spud markets stand largely unchanged, with the stock moving even though at lesser quantities than experienced during the pandemic.

The majority of the potato farmers are now complete or nearing planting completion following a good spell of dry weather with excellent ground conditions.

In France, the wholesale market is improving, although the level of activity remains below pre-COVID-19 levels, Agrodigital recently wrote. In terms of exports, the market remains active and the regularity of flows to Eastern European countries is confirmed. Flows to Spain will decrease as early potato grubbing-ups progress.

“The quotes in week 176 were for the Agata France washed category 1 in containers of 12.5 kg for the French market quoted at EUR550 per ton (EUR2.5 per ton more than the previous week) while the agate France washed category 1 in a bag of one ton for export quoted at EUR230 per ton (RNM quotes)”, according to the above-mentioned source.

When it comes to Germany, the latest figures show rather mediocre domestic demand. Last March, German retailers sold 132,000 tons of potatoes, down 22% from March 2021. The figures of the AMI/GfK Housepanel panel show a consumption during the first three months of the year of 388,000 tons or 15.7% less than the last year during the same period.

For Spain, In Seville and Cadiz, the earliest potatoes have already been plucked, being sold at high prices of EUR550-600 per ton. In Andalusia, the quality of the tubers seems good, and in Cartagena, the harvest is delayed by rain. Quality and yield could be affected due to heavy rains that fell in March. In Spanish supermarkets, the switch from the French potato to the early potato has been underway since March. Retailers are increasingly buying second-crop potatoes produced in the Cartagena&Murcia region and early potatoes imported from Israel.

In Portugal, the cultivar area for the next campaign is estimated at 15,000 ha, 6.2% less than last year, according to the National Institute of Statistics. The irrigated area is 13,000 ha (similar to last year), with the remaining 2,000 ha rainfed (25% less).

Last, but not least, in Italy, the early potato production (from Sicily) is delayed by almost a month due to late plantings. When it comes to production estimates, some 337,000 t of early potatoes are expected in 2022, which represents an increase of 30,000 t compared to the average of the last five years.