Kartoffeln Cockpit, 06.09.2019

The fact that there are always enough potatoes during the harvest is the reason why it is so quiet right now. The super-regional demand is calm and prices are under pressure. So is everything normal? Or do we have to adjust to troubled times now? Consumption of fresh potatoes has been particularly pronounced this summer; more than usual, because the heat prevented hunger for hot dishes. This negative trend has therefore made itself felt particularly in this year. In the last 10 years, however, this has been compensated by an increasing demand for processing raw materials. Potato consumption has continued to increase and potato cultivation area has been steadily expanded. This is supposed to have been particularly strong this year, which is not unusual, because in the last year the harvest was not sufficient because of a drought and there were high prices. A similar devastating drought, but there are also this year. The farmers in Western and Central Europe were better prepared than their counterparts in the East.As a result, the sale of potatoes from surplus areas in the West started exceptionally early, which explains why our consumer potato prices are far from falling as much as in other years just before the start of the main crop. This in turn could be a problem for traders who do not want to fill their winter storage with high-priced potatoes. They can only benefit from a stock advantage if winter prices significantly overcompensate weight loss. That is not sure. Since the forecasts for the potato harvest in the EU are currently still very uncertain, many farmers are still undecided about how many tubers from the harvest they want to sell immediately and how many you want to store. The question of the economic benefit is the same for them: Does the price in winter increase more than the loss of storage can? Finally, losses are not only caused by the evaporation of adhering water or sweat losses of the tubers. The durability of the harvest as a whole is still a big question mark. Although starch levels may not be a problem after many hours of sunshine, some Erwinia cases are already reporting.While the growth rates are significantly lower, even in late-ripening varieties than in other years, potato growers are preparing for storage. A proper marketing advantage also prevents supply pressure. Quotations for frit raw materials have now been at an unchanged level for three weeks. The Belgapom and the REKA left it today with the prices of the last week. If demand from Poland and other Eastern European countries were not so constant, the spot market for potatoes would come to a complete standstill these days. The factories currently only process contract goods. They also have to, so they meet their purchase commitments in time. If the European fry factories want to continue to operate so successfully on the world market, they will still need high-performance raw material suppliers at their side in the future. On the Weuthen potato day in the last week already a further expansion of the potato cultivation area was called for. From there came but otherwise no impetus for this marketing season.Actually, the trading house can not be interested in that, because after a very successful new potato season the potato farmers in the Rhineland are more than satisfied and behave calmly. On the other hand, the factories must be grateful for such efficient suppliers. This impressive showcase of the German potato industry is very satisfied with itself. Since you can currently need no restlessness.