Comment: Retail demand appears to have dropped back slightly and the food service sector remains unchanged. Early plantings continue at pace this week as the weather improves. At this stage, early plantings are behind schedule.

This could lead to market disruptions later in the year, as early stocks will not be evenly distributed into the market.

In the UK, there is an element of optimism with the economy and weather improving. There are reports of a further tightening of Maris Piper supplies, supporting prices and maintaining their large premium over Whites.

Across Europe, there has been good progress with land work and planting of early crop this week. Physical prices for the processing market have flattened as buyers are meeting their immediate needs, although there is still interest in May/June delivery. In the fresh sector, export demand is quiet, but, in Germany, higher prices are being paid for washing quality.