The Expana Benchmark Price (EBP) for Dutch processing potatoes currently stands at €180 per metric ton (MT), down 28% month-on-month (m-o-m) and 51.4% year-on-year (y-o-y). Prices for Belgian Fontane potatoes are currently at €130/MT, down 25.7% m-o-m and 62.8% y-o-y. The market is described as very quiet, with limited demand resulting in few trades and falling prices. Most EU potato processors are covered by contracts and are sourcing only minimal quantities from the free-buy market. As availability remains high, there is little competition between buyers.
Planting for the 2025 crop is well under way across the EU. Weeks of dry weather in March and April have allowed farmers to plant quickly. As of April 23, market sources report that around half of the crop has been planted in Belgium and Germany, while two-thirds have been planted in the Netherlands and France. The successful and early start to planting has added downward pressure to prices, with the market anticipating an earlier harvest. However, stakeholders note that conditions can change quickly, and a drought could still significantly impact final yields.
Market players remain bearish on the price outlook for the remainder of the 2024/25 marketing year, citing high availability and large contracted volumes held by processors. Nonetheless, weather conditions will be a critical factor to monitor going forward.
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Authored by:
Harry Campbell
Expana
[email protected]
