Dutch potato exports have not really picked up steam yet. "African markets currently still have quite a large supply of both potatoes and onions from Morocco and Egypt," says Lorella Maggio of Agridor Holland from Putte. Still, she does not think potato exports are picking up later than other years. "But that may seem so, because we stopped the old season earlier," she says.
Lorella Maggio.
"I find it difficult to give a preview of the season. It could well be that we will still get quite reasonable yields, although the harvest seems to be lower again in some areas. But I don't expect us to match the extremely high prices of the last two years.Still, you never know what other problems one might face this year," Lorella said.
West Africa is traditionally the biggest export destination for Agridor Holland, although local production in countries like Senegal is increasingly a threat, according to the director. "We used to be able to export potatoes there year-round, now it is only four months a year." She doesn't think that Russia, which closed its borders exactly 10 years ago, will become another export market. "Given the political situation, that seems quite a complicated situation to me. Besides, it has always been a problematic destination."
For more information:
Lorella Maggio
Agridor Holland BV
Mob: +31 06 - 53285791
Email: [email protected]
www.agridor.com