In recent weeks enough potatoes have left for export and there is a good demand for potatoes from the industry. "The market got through the ABC virus well," observes Adrie Kleinjan, of the eponymous potato trader, referencing the drop out of Africa, the fair in Berlin and Carnaval.
"The price for chip potatoes is responding at the moment and there is good demand for good quality baking potatoes. For the export the supply of oversized seed potatoes is still in the way of a price increase. But if this supply drops, the price could pull up. There is enough faith among the growers, regarding the CBS figures published last week. Africa is also coming back on the market, so there are enough opportunities," continues Adrie.
"There was good export in recent weeks, in which the European countries are the driving force. Until October/November we all talked the market down and the question is whether this was necessary, as enough potatoes were left," says the trader. "The countries that are on the market now won't stop in April and May. The quality of the potatoes that is coming from the growers is good and can sit in storage for a while."
"But we are dependent on multiple factors. We have had a considerable amount of rain last weekend and it seems everywhere is very wet. There has hardly been frost, which is very bad for the structure of the ground. And it will matter considerably if we can get onto the fields in mid March or mid April, but we can't assess that today," Adrie concludes.
