Bélgica: Current potato prices limit export possibilities

Many are therefore holding onto the potatoes," says Jurgen Duthoo of Bart’s Potato Company. "After last year’s bad prices and the late revival growers don’t want to miss their chance this time."

Careful

"The prices aren’t bad at the moment, but they expect to get more later. The thought behind this is that the new season might start later. Due to the colder weather in April it was more difficult for growers to plant. Time will tell whether they are right, I can’t say. We do have to be careful, we have season nature catch up before."

According to Jurgen the interest in the area of export is disappointing. "There are some trucks leaving from here, but we are ’bothered’ by the new harvest from other countries. Suppliers from Spain, Greece and Italy are already exporting decent volumes to Eastern Europe. Many customers prefer the new harvest if it’s available. The price difference between the old and the new - non skin tight - harvest isn’t that high. If the new harvest was much more expensive, or the older much cheaper, it would look different. At the moment the price level of the old harvest is limiting the opportunities to export. It’s a hard sell and the interest in the old harvest is decreasing. The Belgian new harvest starts in over two months. We will have to wait and see what happens in the meantime."

For more information:

Jurgen Duthoo

Bart’s Potato Company bvba

Westvleterenstraat 25a

8640, Vleteren, Belgium

Tel: +32 57 40 91 20

Fax: +32 57 40 91 21

www.lamaire.be