UK Potato Demand Picks Up Steam
According to insiders, market activity has increased since the UK harvest was finished and potatoes are now being stored. In the run-up to Christmas, packers are getting ready for the yearly spike in demand. Following the evaluation on November 27, the Expana Benchmark Price (EBP) for English white potatoes is GBP330/mt, which is 3% less than it was the previous year.
“In recent weeks, a wide range of prices have been reported to Expana for White and Maris Piper potatoes in Scotland and England. Some of the prices heard this week reached GBP370/mt for English White potatoes and GBP350/mt for Scottish White potatoes, with Maris Piper potatoes for both regions at similar levels to the white potatoes,” Harry Campbell from Expana wrote in one of his latest essays.
According to a market source, cited by the above-mentioned expert, “some growers are still holding onto their stocks, expecting prices to climb to GBP400/mt”.
Larger blocks are more expensive to secure, and some packers purchase particular types in bulk, which is also associated with a premium price. These factors contribute to the wide price disparity.
