The turnover of potato cooperation Agrico decreased by 12% to 236 million Euro in 2014/2015 compared to 2013/2014. The cooperation has paid out the maximum to the members, which limited the result to 511,000 Euro. Fiscal year 2014/2015 was a difficult year for Agrico, in which each market had its own dynamics due to different circumstances. In consumption potatoes there was over production in Europe, resulting in the prices being bad all season. This situation effected the purchasing power of consumption grower and therefore the buying of seeding goods in Europe. The sales of seeding goods outside of Europe increased.
In the prospects for the current season, Agrico sees that the sales of seeding potatoes has been going well overseas. The total yield of consumption potatoes in Europe is lower than last year. This makes the seeding goods market a lot friendlier, especially in South and Eastern Europe. The cooperation expects a slightly above average demand from these areas. The market prices for consumption potatoes in North West Europe showed a slightly decreasing trend after the reveal of the final figures. But Agrico expects an average sales season here. The chip industry is a clearly growing market for seeding potatoes.
The prices on the consumption market in the Netherlands are lower than expected in August. Disappointing export figures and a better yield than expected are the main reasons for this. The export of consumption potatoes will have to increase towards the spring to be able to sell all potatoes. The yields of organic potatoes are very good thanks to the late pressure of Phytophthora. A large part of the produced volume will have to be exported. There seem to be sufficient opportunities for this.
