The Availability of Processing Potatoes is Expected to Improve Throughout the 2024-2025 MY
Early in January, the Expana Benchmark Price (EBP) for Dutch processing potatoes increased significantly, rising 59% month-on-month to EUR270/mt on January 14, 2025, which is a 20% year-over-year (y-o-y) rise.
“Following a subdued Christmas period, trade activity has picked up quickly in the new year, in line with seasonal trends. Market participants report limited supplies currently available, as many growers are holding potatoes in storage, optimistic that prices will increase later in the 2024/25 marketing year (MY),” Harry Campbell from Mintec by Expana recently wrote.
According to the North-Western European Potato Growers (NEPG), domestic production dropped 4.6% below the 5-year average to 3.37m tons for the 2024 harvest, prompting Dutch processors to increasingly purchase from neighboring nations.
Due to the effects of rainy weather on planting and harvesting, Belgium’s 2024 harvest production was 2.7% lower year over year but 0.8% higher than the 5-year average.
Germany and France have offset these declines with y-o-y production increases of 8.9% and 12.6% respectively.
“This lifted total NEPG production to 24.61m tonnes for 2024, representing a 6.6% y-o-y increase, while also 8.3% above the 5-year average. According to the NEPG, the rise in production was primarily driven by a 6.9% expansion in planted area, which compensated for a 1.4% y-o-y decline in average yields,” the expert added.
Market experts observe that, due to fewer quality difficulties following a drier harvest in 2024 compared to the previous year, processing potato supply is likely to improve throughout the 2024-2025 MY compared to the 2023-2024 MY.
