Comment: Household consumption and retail sales remain buoyant.

There are still some potatoes remaining in the ground in Donegal and it is unlikely that they will be harvested until mid-March.

With saleable yields significantly reduced due to greening and frost damage, 2020 stock is likely to be tightened significantly before new stock comes on the market.

In the UK, the food service sector remains depressed, with anecdotal reports of some packing lines running at just 50% of capacity.

There are also rumours of rejections due to tuber sprouting. There is a steady flow on free-buy packing and prices remain the same.

Across Europe, markets remain largely unchanged, with retail holding firm and processing factories operating at reduced capacity. There is virtually no demand from processors outside of their contracts.