Up to December 8, 2021, European potato export demand remains good, but orders are being canceled due to logistics, with increased transport, container, and energy costs continuing to disrupt this year’s output movements.
The latest Irish Farmers Association’s (IFA) report shows also that across Europe, there were serious concerns about the possibility of lockdown due to COVID-19, but there is now hope that restrictions will not be severe as originally expected.
“The NEPG estimates that total production in the four main producing countries, excluding the UK, was ‘average’ at 22.7m tons and 700,000 tons lower than last year,” the IFA report reveals.
An Air of Uncertainty
For Ireland, the beginning of the festive period should bolster retail trade and domestic consumption, IFA’s experts say. ‘An air of uncertainty is still cast over the foodservice sector, with many events being canceled.
“However, indoor dining continues as normal. Increased input costs, especially fertilizer and energy, are a growing concern for growers approaching the 2022 season. Growers storing potatoes should take note of the cost of energy bills over the months ahead,” IFA’s specialists added.
