Retail sales and home consumption are reported to be steady. Warmer weather had a small impact but it was short lived. With the school holidays beginning the food service sector should see a welcome boost. Rain over the past few days was welcomed by growers. Plantings are now wrapped up, which is significantly later than last year and it will not be an early year by any means. Early growers in the south-east have begun harvesting and stock will trickle onto the market over the coming weeks.
In the European market, conditions remain unchanged. Export markets to the East are slowing down but in France there is still strong demand from Spain and Portugal for washing quality. In Germany, Destatis estimates that the total planted area this year will fall by 7.1%, to be the same as 2024 season. World Potato Markets reports that the first estimates of planted area in Belgium suggest that the overall reduction could be as much as 14.5%, with the biggest reductions being noted in the early crop.
