The retail market is stable and the latest spell of colder weather has slightly increased home consumption. The market for peeling potatoes remains flat. Quality issues are apparent in store which is tightening pre-pack quality in particular. Overall plantings are nearing completion. Rain was welcome for early growers in the South-East the past week.
In Portugal, plantings are reduced by 11 to 12% and seed sales from the Netherlands are reduced by 22%. New crop exports to Northern Europe, and particularly Germany, will be greatly reduced. The war in the Middle East has given China and India an opportunity to capitalise on French Fry markets in the Far East.
