Kartoffeln News, 09/15/2023

Table potatoes have slowed their downward trend. Discounts are now much smaller and almost moderate compared to previous weeks. Reka reports 33 euros/dt for food products from the Rhineland and 30 euros/dt is expected for Lower Saxony in the coming week. This means that the tubers are still trading above the previous year's level, although the gap has narrowed significantly. In the north there are increasing reports of scab, while in southern Germany wireworm affects the qualities. Overall, the market is still well supplied, even if rain showers have recently hampered the harvest. In Lower Saxony, harvest progress of around 10-20 percent is reported; usually around half of the fields have been cleared by mid-September. The cross-regional loading from the north to the south continues. The supply on the processing market has grown significantly. The main harvest has also begun here, but there are still plenty of early potatoes available due to the late cultivation. No change in current supply pressures is expected in the short term as factories have already reached capacity with contract potatoes.A similar picture can be seen in Belgium. Prices continue to decline here too. Processors ask for little to no free quantities and so the late harvest of many varieties does not bring any relief to the price and supply. Demands from Spain and Italy provide some relief here. Belgapom determined a current price of 12.50 euros/dt. Early varieties are also valued by Reka today at 12.50 euros/dt, while Innovator is still listed at 14.50 euros/dt. In France, trade in free quantities is also low. The first estimates here are that there will be a record harvest of consumer potatoes this year. A harvest of 6.8 million tons is currently expected, which means more potatoes for consumption than ever before. The returns are significantly better than expected. In addition, French farmers have significantly expanded their cultivation. There was no trading on EEX today. In line with general market expectations, April tubers in Leipzig are trending above current prices. Closing price yesterday and today is 24.70 euros/German.