Netherlands: Seed potato exports down by 16%

The total export in the 2023-2024 season amounts to 725,000 tons. The 2022-2023 record is 135,000 tons above that with 860,000 tons. Last year, Dutch trading companies shipped mainly less seed potatoes to Africa (-60,000 tons) and Asia (-40,000 tons). But fewer potters were also sold within Europe (-35,000 tons). The smaller exports are the result of the lower availability of seed potatoes after the problematic growing season last year. In that light, sales within the European Union are still not too bad; five percent less to 440,000 tons. Ultimately, that amount is five percent greater than the average over the past five years. Exports to Belgium stand head and shoulders above the rest. In total, more than 116,000 tons were sold to our southern neighbors. That is only 4,500 tons less than the record in the previous season. Germany was the leader in purchasing Dutch seed potatoes in 2022-2023, but sales to its eastern neighbors remained just below 100,000 tons last season. Larger ...