Weekly Potato Report

Home Market Prices: (Ex-farm) Week beginning 12/04/04

Prices quoted above are direct to packer/merchants in bags (10kgs) or boxes.

As the main crop planting campaign gets under way throughout the country, heavy rain has hampered progress in some areas. Trade for Rooster and Whites continues to be firm from all sections of the market. The majority of supplies are now coming from cold stores with Kerrs Pink making up most of the ambient stocks remaining.

Fertilizer market remains competitive

The fertilizer market has become even more competitive in recent weeks. Merchants, with stock on hand, are discounting prices to try and keep product moving. This has helped farmers bargaining for large loads.

Bulk CAN, in particular, has dropped in price and is reported to be selling as low as €154 per tonne delivered, in the midlands. Bulk 18:6:12 is selling for €200 per tonne delivered, and as low as €193 per tonne collected in the South East. The small bit of granular Urea available is trading at €225 in bulk and €245 to €250 in bags.

CAN in bags has not reduced as much as the bulk product and is still trading at €190 to €193 per tonne. Toplift bags of 27:2.5:5 has come back to €190 to €195 per tonne, with some deals done as low as €175 per tonne in the South East.

There is also a 27:0:10 product, available for €190 a tonne, offering better value than CAN.

16:7:14 in toplift bags is trading at €200 a tonne, delivered.