Netherlands: Potato scarcity threatens Belgian French fries factories

According to Vermeulen, the Belgian processors are still managing for the time being, but he is receiving signals that they have to make more effort to get enough potatoes to the French fries factories. 'To compensate for the scarcity, the potatoes come from further away and the prices on the free market are at a high level.' French fries manufacturers secure the bulk of their potatoes with contracts, but often a small quantity is still obtained from the free market. This price is an indication of the scarcity. Dutch potato processors also experienced a drop in supply in May for the first time this season. However, the level is still above the five-year average. In May, Dutch processors cut a total of 333,000 tons of consumption potatoes into chips and other potato products. That is 6.4 percent less than in May last year. Based on the processing figures for May 2023, there does not seem to be a potato shortage at Dutch fries manufacturers. High potato prices Pieter van Oost, ...