No change in spud estimate
No change in spud estimate
LATEST crop production estimate from the British Potato Council for this season is unchanged from Novembers figure of 6.4m tonnes.
That is 400,000t higher than last years crop, but remains 55,000t below the four-year average.
"A lot of the poorer quality stock has already been moved out of stores," says the BPCs Guy Gagen. "And if stocks are low as we enter the new crop marketing year it will also have a positive effect on new crop values."
The BPC weekly average price appears to have temporarily peaked after last weeks £2.10/t rise, easing 5p to £92.99/t.
Branston Potatoes trading director, Richard Clark, says farmer selling is trailing last year, and stocks are higher. "There are plenty of potatoes in the UK." This should be good news for the company, which is operating on a free-buy basis, but Mr Clark says the markets are flat.
New supplies will soon be arriving from Mediterranean countries, he adds. He dismisses reports that poor weather in the Mediterranean will limit crop exports. "The imports will be a week to 10 days late, but could run for longer, which will depress UK prices." *