The export of Dutch to overseas destinations may be higher in volume than last year after the dry growing season, but not yet at the level of exports after the 2017 and 2016 harvest years.
In particular, exports seed potatoes to some North African countries seem to have been disappointing so far this season, according to the export figures published by the Dutch Potato Organization (NAO) last week. The Dutch seed potato sector exported almost 383,000 tons of seed potato this season up to and including 31 January.
That is 19,000 tons more than last year at the same reference point. After the dry growing season of 2018, however, there was less seed available at the time and trading companies were not always able to meet the export demand from overseas destinations.
Seed potatoes export to Asia up to 20 percent lower
Up to and including the end of January, almost 96,500 tons of seed potatoes were shipped to Asian countries. That was 82,900 tons last year. The main export destination for Asia is the Middle East with countries such as Iraq, Israel, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and Syria. Compared to the exports in 2017-2018 and 2016-2017, exports to Asia are about 5 to 20 percent behind.
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The export of seed potatoes to African destinations certainly seems to be lagging behind compared to two and three seasons ago. 144,000 tons of seed potatoes have been sold to Africa so far. That is more than 7,000 tons more than last year, but less than in January 2018 and January 2017 when the export counter was already at 182,000 tons and 180,000 tons respectively.
The countries that are clearly lagging behind in the purchase of Dutch seed potatoes are Egypt, Morocco and Libya. Exports to Algeria, one of the largest buyers for many years, remain reasonably at the level of previous years.
