Listing Challenger and Fontane increases by 1.00 euros to 6.00 euros. Flemish arable farmers plant 10 percent less potatoes this year. American potato acreage may increase this year by 5 percent to 389,000 ha.
The potato market at our southern neighbors has shown an improvement in the last two weeks. In week 10, the quotations on the Belgapom potato exchange dropped sharply from 7.50 euros to 5.00 euros for the French fries varieties Challenger and Fontane. Challenger held on to this price for four weeks before increasing to 6.00 euros last week. The Fontane variety also followed today with an increase from 1.00 euros to 6.00 euros. According to the Stock Exchange Commission, the trade mood is fixed for both varieties. Both varieties have been demanded by the industry as a result of a relaxation of corona measures in some regions of Europe, for example England. The trade price of free potatoes in England rose last week by 8 euros p / t to 131 euros p / t.
Flemish acreage -10 percent
The first survey for the Belgian potato area 2021 assumes a contraction of 10 percent in Flanders and 9 percent in Wallonia. According to the survey, the total area of consumption potatoes in Flanders would fall by 10 percent compared to 2020. This reduces the Flemish area to almost 48,000 ha. This is the lowest acreage in the past six years. According to the survey, the area in Wallonia is just under 40,000 ha.
American acreage +5 percent
According to the first estimates by WPM (World Potato Markets), a 5 percent increase in the US potato acreage by 2021 appears to be possible. With this, the growers are responding to a shortage of potatoes from the 2020 harvest. WPM calculates that a 5 percent increase in plantings (2021: 389,000 ha.) Would result in the largest potato area in the US since 2018, while a similar increase in the Canadian plantings (2021: 154,445 ha) would mean the largest acreage since 2008.
