The volume of potatoes in storage across the European Union is currently lower than last year as a result of poor weather over the past few weeks and a downturn in planted area, according to North-West European Potato Growers (NEPG).
Official estimates published thsi week by the group, which represents producers in Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands and the UK, point to a total crop of 23m tonnes, representing a 14.5 per cent decrease on the year-earlier figure.
The five northern European countries together are responsible for producing approimately 60 per cent of the continent's total harvest and a staggering 90 per cent of exported volumes between EU members.
The effect of such a major downturn in production could be significant. Germany alone, Europe's largest potato producer, is expected to see its output fall by 1.4m tonnes this season, equivalent to Italy's entire national potato crop.
'The fall in production registered in Europe, combined with uncertainty about the level of quality of the north European crop, has led to an upturn in prices for product across all markets and the trend over the next few months is likely to be towards potato supply being in balance with demand,' commented Augusto Renella of Italian group Borsa Patata Bologna.
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