7% RISE IN POTATO OUTPUT LIKELY ACCORDING TO LATEST FORECAST
POTATO production in North-West Europe is likely to rise by around 7% as planted hectarage is increasing, according to forecasts by North-western European Potato Growers (NEPG).
Expana, the global provider of global commodity price data, forecasts, and market intelligence, has reported that more land is being used for potato growing in the Netherlands, France, Germany and Belgium, than a year ago, and production in the 2024/25 growing year is likely to surpass the 22.7 million tonnes output seen in 2023/24.
The Expana Benchmark Price (EBP) for Dutch processing potatoes remains steady month-on-month at €150/mt, while the EBP for Belgian Fontane potatoes holds at €125/mt and is described as ‘stable’.
Over the course of the 2024 season, a shortage of seed drove up prices, and many growers had to rely on cut seed. Persistent and heavy rain during planting and summer meant that plantings were spread beyond a 10-week period, particularly in Belgium and the southern Netherlands. France and Germany were less affected.
Planting was generally carried out within poor soil conditions, with continual rainfall causing one of the worst late blight pressures seen in recent years. New or evolving strains of blight required different active treatment mixtures, leading to higher spraying costs and more treatments.
Photo: North Western Europe Potato Growers
