Comment: Lifting continues this week for growers who have crop remaining in the ground. Conditions remain very difficult, which will contribute to high losses. Frost conditions will also add to the amount of unsaleable crop. Most crops remaining in the ground are in the southeast, with some growers reporting around 12% of their crop left to be harvested.

In the UK a price split is emerging depending on quality. Reports indicate that movement of lower-quality supplies is steady and prices for best quality have continued upwards to encourage growers to move good-quality material.

Across Europe, harvesting is now virtually complete apart from Ireland, the Netherlands and the UK. About 2% of crop remains in the ground in the Netherlands but there has been 25mm of rain over the past few days. Therefore, it is likely to remain unlifted. In the North Yorks in the UK, reports indicate that some 20% of crop remains in the ground.

Exports by the EU to third countries in Asia and South America were down by 5.2% over the previous year to September due to lack of produce available. However, exports to North America were up 50%.

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