An unexpected end to the 2006/07 maincrop potato season has left growers ‘confused’ as demand dries up and prices fall rapidly, according to the BPC, which added that remaining stocks have become difficult to sell with increasing pressure on markets.
But BPC stressed that this should not come as a surprise in view of the increased consolidation in the European potato market in recent times. This resulted in buyers in the processing and fresh markets being able to plan supply requirements well in advance.
In Belgium, the processing market has fallen rapidly, with prices down to £92-96/t, well down on the previous week’s figure of £129-136t and an even more dramatic collapse from the £190/t seen at the end of April. Early crops are growing rapidly, with the first processing varieties expected to be ready for harvest by mid July.
In France, the picture is equally bleak, with Fiwap reporting that processing markets are in ‘free fall’. Trading is difficult in the maincrop fresh market, with remaining French maincrop and new potato imports now hard to sell, according to the BPC.
In Germany the fresh market is trading early imported supplies, though volume is starting to decline sooner than expected. Egyptian stocks are almost cleared and Spanish arrivals are declining.
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