BDF COMMODITIES, the last specialist potato futures broker in the UK, has ceased trading due to a lack of business.

Financial director John Bull blamed poor liquidity in the potato futures market for the drop in demand. “It has been a very quiet market and you need movement to generate business.” April potato futures have remained static at about €11.70/100kg (£80.60/t) for the past four months and traded volumes have fallen sharply.

“A lot of potato trading is now done on forward contracts so maybe there’s less need for the futures,” he added. But farmers and buyers would still be able to trade potato futures through most non-specialist brokers, he said.