Potato exporters, peelers, and fresh market buyers compete with one another for supplies in Europe. The exorbitant prices being quoted are impeding the movement of importers who are seeking supplies from the Mediterranean and Eastern countries.

“In the U.K. planting is very much stop-start. It is now very wet in many areas and no more planting is taking place,” according to the latest IFA potato report.

In Ireland, potato markets continue to hold steady with upward pressure on prices reported as the availability of prepack quality material continues to tighten.

“Trade for the peeling market is very strong. To date it is not shaping up to be an early year as ground remains very wet in many areas,” the experts concluded.