The North-western European Potato Growers (NEPG) anticipates that the potato output for the 2024/25 marketing year (MY) in the region will exceed the 22.7 million tonnes recorded in 2023/24. This projection is attributed to an expansion in planted area across the EU-4 (Netherlands, France, Germany, and Belgium), with a year-on-year increase of 7% for the 2024 season.
Regarding market dynamics, the Expana Benchmark Price (EBP) for Dutch processing potatoes has remained constant month-on-month at €150/mt. Similarly, the EBP for Belgian Fontane potatoes is steady at €125/mt. Market stakeholders report a 'stable' condition, with both buyers and growers in a holding pattern as they await further insights into the 2024 harvest's outcomes.
The 2024 growing season brought several challenges to farmers, including a seed shortage that led to elevated prices and reliance on cut seed. Adverse weather conditions, characterized by persistent and heavy rain, extended planting times beyond the usual 10-week window, particularly affecting Belgium and the southern Netherlands, though France and Germany experienced less impact. These conditions resulted in widespread poor soil quality and one of the most severe late blight pressures in recent memory. The emergence of new or evolving blight strains necessitated the use of mixed active ingredients, increasing both the cost and frequency of treatments, notably for late-planted fields.
Source: Mintec Global