At the weekend there will be movement in the recently weak processing market . Although not all stocks have still been cleared, factories here and there have to resort to supplies due to the declining harvest volume, which is also reflected in firmer prices. Today Reka is quoting 18 euros/dt for the Innovator variety, which is currently in particularly high demand, and prices have also increased in Belgium. Fontane and Challenger are now quoted at 12 euros/dt, 2 euros more than last Friday. The potato harvest in Belgium continues to progress sluggishly, and conditions have even worsened in all regions due to the weather. On more and more days there are no goods available from the field and so the first goods are mobilized from the warehouse - even if contract potatoes still make up the majority of the actual trade. An increasing demand for French fries potatoes is also reported in France. The RNM raised the prices, free processed goods are no longer available from the field or from interim storage to the same extent and, because the harvest is almost complete, contract goods are hardly available from the field anymore, which is why buyers are increasingly asking.The contract prices on the EEX have recently fallen somewhat, but overall interest in futures trading appears to be still there. There is also movement in the table potato market. At the turn of the month there are only a few fresh quantities available directly from the field and so traders have to mobilize goods that have already been stored with surcharges. The surcharges are one to two euros per 100 kg. However, there are different developments depending on the region. Higher prices are particularly evident in southern Germany, where prices of up to 36 euros/dt are said to have already been paid. Overall demand is described as good, with discounters in particular currently demanding a lot of goods. The first reports are also coming from the export business, which is currently still going slowly. However, demand from classic destinations is seen as more dynamic just in time for the Christmas business. In particular, inquiries are increasingly arriving in Germany from Poland, the Balkans and Austria.
ZMP Live Expert Opinion
Slowly but surely the signs on the potato market are changing. Export demand for table potatoes is still low, but is expected to improve significantly in the near future. There are initial signs of this. Even though there are still larger quantities of processed goods to be salvaged, particularly in Belgium, the immediately available supply from the field is continually decreasing. The demand for free goods is slowly but surely gaining momentum everywhere in Europe.