POTATO MARKETS Weekly

摘要

European potato markets have revived this week after the temporary lull last week. Contiming hot and dry weather across the major northern European growing regions is becoming a major cause of concern. Care already needs to be taken over lifting, notonly because of the dry soil conditions but also because the tubers are less mature than usual because growth has been restricted by the hot weather. The lack of rain has prompted a surge in trading in the April 2007 Hanover processing contract. Trade volume last week exceeded the equivalent of 60 000 tonnes and a further 37 625t have changed hands in the first two days of this week. Dutch traders are clearly using the contract as a substitute for the closed Amsterdam futures market; only options trading is still missing. Today's closing price was EUR 215/tonne (￡149/tonne) compared with EUR 157/t last Tuesday.