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The European potato market is “out of balance” according to the North-Western European Potato Growers (NEPG), with supply outstripping demand.
This is as a result of the COVID-19 lockdown which severely disrupted demand from the food service market for potato products, the group says.
While demand from the retail market for potato products has begun to increase, this hasn’t been enough to compensate for the lack of demand from hotels, restaurants and the catering industry earlier in the season.
The statement comes as the group released its estimated yield figures for Europe’s largest potato-producing countries – the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Germany and the UK.
The NEPG has estimated that overall potato yields are on par with the five-year average. However, as the total planted area has increased by 1.4% compared with last year, the group estimates that the total harvest will come in around 27.9 million tonnes in those five countries. This is compared with 26.9 million tonnes last year.
Reduce your area
The NEPG is advising all of its members to reduce their planted area next year.
In a statement, the group said: “It is no use to plant potatoes and receive low prices. Save your precious land for the future and set aside or plant better crops (ie cereals, for example) for your soils.”
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