Comment: Lifting continues at pace this week across the country as weather conditions have improved. This should allow for the final Queen crops to be harvested this week. Conditions are still challenging in parts of the country and growers are behind schedule at this stage. Retail demand remains quite strong. However, there is some uncertainty around the food service sector as ‘wet pubs’ can reopen from Monday.

In the UK free-buy trade fall has dropped this week and movement of supplies on contract continues to command the majority in potato markets.

Demand is subdued this week surrounding a potential re-imposing of stricter lockdown measures, which has seen some purchasers await further information before placing orders.

The first EU27 production estimate puts the total crop at 54.8Mts which is about 3.7Mts higher than last year. The total planted area at 1.655million ha is about 26,000ha higher than last year. Total plantings this year are about 102,000ha higher than they were five years ago.