News on Potato Trade from Europe

Europatat, the European Potato Trade Association, and DKHV, the German Potato Trading Association (Deutscher Kartoffelhandelsverband), are pleased to announce the dates for the annual Europatat Congress, that this year will take place in Düsseldorf (Germany) from 7 to 9 May 2015.

The total ware potato harvest in the five North-Western European Potato growers (NEPG) countries - Belgium, Germany, France, the Netherlands and Great Britain - in 2014 is estimated at more than 28 million tons.

In the potato market, growers and traders live from day to day. 'It's very unpredictable at the moment', Bart Nemegheer of the Aardappelhoeve laments. 'Demand is good, but prices are far below par.'

In a reversal of policy, the Russian government last week modified its prohibition on several types of food imports from the United States, Canada, the EU, and other Western countries to allow for the importation of seed potatoes.

As Potato Council and the GB seed potato sector prepare for next months’ Potato Europe event in Germany, recent export statistics confirm that GB seed potatoes continue to be in demand around the world, with the 2013/14 figures revealing a new seed exports record from Britain.

Vladimir Putin has banned the import of agricultural goods from countries that have imposed sanctions on Russia in a tit-for-tat move that deepens the economic standoff between the Kremlin and the west.

Russia`s temporary blockade imposed on imports of Ukrainian potatoes is unlikely to have a major impact on trade, says analyst.

Russia’s Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance (Rosselkhoznadzor) has issued a temporary import ban on potatoes from neighboring Ukraine.

There was a time when Italian new potatoes ruled the Central and Northern European markets, but this is ancient history.

La Asociación de Distribuidores de Papas de Gran Canaria (ADIPA), que se presentó oficialmente este viernes (16 de mayo), es una agrupación que tiene como objetivo el de revertir la tendencia actual de consumo y conseguir que el 80% de la papa que se compre en la isla sea de la tierra.

Europatat welcomes the European Parliament plenary vote on plant health that results in more responsibilities for operators and a common sense on trade

HZPC Holland B.V. expects to pay its seed potato growers at least 33 euro per 100 kg for crop 2013. This forecasted price is 10% above the expected 30 euro that HZPC expressed to its growers at the beginning of December 2013.

HZPC Holland bv verwacht zijn pootgoedtelers minstens €33 per 100 kilo te zullen betalen over Oogst 2013.

Russia will start importing Dutch seed potatoes again, once a quality inspection has deemed them suitable. This could mean a 10 million euro export opportunity for companies.

The expectations were positive, but the doors to Russia are still closed for the European potato and seed potato sector.

With its annual exports of approximately 418,000 tons, Flandria is Europe’s biggest vegetable brand. You can get to know the products and sixteen fruit and vegetable suppliers at Fruit Logistica.

Profits have fallen by more than £10m at McCain Foods GB after Britain's market-leading frozen chip maker was hit by a severe shortage of quality potatoes in the UK as a direct result of the extreme weather conditions in the 2012 growing season.

According to Romain Cools from Belgapom it is a fact that the consumption of fresh potatoes by Belgian families is falling, but he expects the prices to remain high.