In a preliminary estimate issued on July 7, the Northwestern European Potato Growers (NEPG) association reported that the area of ware potatoes farmed in Belgium, the Netherlands, France and Germany has increased by two to three percent. This is slightly higher than in 2020, when 522,000 hectares were cultivated. However, difficult growing conditions early in this year’s growing season have raised many questions for 2023 production at a time when there is strong demand for processed potato products.
As expected in March, the starch and seed area in the NEPG region was reduced by more than 15,000 hectares. Processing potatoes are now grown on most of this land. Seed area is down by around 2,500 hectares in both the Netherlands and France. It is expected that seed area will also shrink in Germany, Belgium, Denmark and Scotland. Should there be a loss of 10,000 hectares of seed this year in Northwestern Europe, the result could be a decrease of 100,000 hectares of ware potatoes in 2024.
Due to rain, planning activities were delayed throughout Western Europe this spring. The main crops were planted from mid-April to early June, with a peak in the second half of May. The current situation suggests a persistent lack of enough rainfall, requiring irrigation where possible.
Combined with the delayed planting, factors related to the seed, soil preparation and/or climatic conditions have had an impact on potato development and growth. Flowering tuberization generally occurred earlier than normal.
How big the impact will be on the quantity and quality of 2023 production remains in question. It’s still too early to tell in spite of the fact that many growers are worried about what they see in their ridges.
Strong Global Demand for Processed Potato Products
In this context, demand for free buy potatoes continues throughout Western Europe. Noting that processors are keen on securing the industrial raw material they need for the foreseeable end of the season,” NEPG stated: “It seems that some were willing to accept almost any price for the last batches of the old crop without contract. The truth is also that the supply of non-contractual processing material dried up by the end of June and beginning of July.”
Some processors are considering extending planned summer holidays and maintenance before switching to the new harvest. But there are exceptions, as a number of factories which are not stopping activities.
Meanwhile, the first crops from Rhineland, Lower Saxony and Palatinate are not expected before Week 29 (July 17-21), while Belgian crops in West Flanders with sufficient size and dry matter content will probably not be harvested until late July and early August (Weeks 30 and 31).
