Potato Markets Weekly

摘要

The first statistics relating to the 2007 crop have at last been issued by the Dutch CBS. There is no estimate for starch potatoes, but the ware and seed harvest is put at 4.942 million tonnes, 13% more than last year. This year's German ware and seedharvest could be only 8.254mt, 406 000t less than in 2005 so that the average producer price for class 2+3 potatoes could reach EUR135/tonne over the coming storage season. Polish potato production has rebounded to a provisional 11.2 million tonnes fromlast year's 8.9mt and it is thought that the final outcome could be nearer 12mt. There are storability fears and producer prices look set to weaken. More potatoes are likely to be used for feed as there is limited export potential. Swedish plantings aresaid to be 9% down on last year, at 20 177 hectares. The net yield, after 35% wastage, is said to be only 12 tonnes/hectare, but such a low figure will need verification. French and British prices are continuing to rise and German producer prices have also turned the corner, although significant increases are not expected until the middle of next month. Spanish ex farm prices are showing signs of levelling out at the 2003 level. RMX Hanover prices of April 2008 contracts have changed very little over the past week, enshrining the substantial London contract premium. Belgian processing industry investment and capacity are continuing to expand, with the 17 companies processing a total 2.2 million tonnes of potatoes in 2006/07 compared with 2.03mt in 2005/06. Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany all enjoyed remarkable success with their fry exports in 2006/07. Dutch processors in particular were able to procure imports to maintain throughput. UK ware imports tumbled in July but recovered slightly in the2006/07 season, while there was an expanding deficit in trade in uncooked potato products. Germany recorded a strong ware trade surplus in July. Danish company Danespo A/S recorded a small profit in 2006/07 after registering a heavy loss in 2005/06. PepsiCo is building a new Frito Lay snacks plant in the Rostov region of Russia. Higher levels of vitamin C and antioxidants have been found in organic produce by a UK group contributing to the EU-funded Quality Low Input Food project. German supplies of organic potatoes are extremely tight, despite an enormous price premium. Around half the supplies being sold by the large retailers are being imported from Austria, where the harvest is said to be 15-20% larger than last year.