In the recent North-Western European Potato Growers (NEPG) January 2023 update, the NEPG estimated 2022/23 potato production in the NEPG zone at 21.7 million tonnes, a decline of 5% year-on-year (y-o-y). Production in Belgium, France and Germany declined, offsetting the growth in the Netherlands. In 2022/23, there was huge variability in yields regionally, amid local weather conditions, most notably the summer drought across Europe. Warmer-than-average temperatures, combined with a lack of rain, affected the early growth of the potatoes and limited development during bulking before harvest, leading to a decline in yields in Belgium, Germany and France.
The majority of contracts have been finalised for the 2023/24 season, with reports of a rise in contracts of between 20-45% y-o-y. The rise is attributable to various factors, but most notably the significant growth in energy and fertiliser costs compared to 2021, which has driven up the cost of storage for potato growers. Additionally, to eliminate some financial risk, many farmers are working with cost price indicators, linking upcoming contract prices to a range of price indices, including energy, fertiliser, machinery contractor’s tariffs and processing facilities. According to the NEPG’s recent January report update, a combination of these factors could incentivise growers to expand production areas, potentially boosting potato production in the upcoming season.
