W3: Weekly Common & Sweet Potato Update

Potato

Europe

EU Potato Contracts up 20-30% Amid Higher Production Costs

The EU's potato farmers experienced higher production costs throughout 2022, primarily due to energy, fertiliser, and transportation costs. Increased expenses are reducing growers' profit margins and pushing cultivation and storage costs to unaffordable levels. Significant driving factors, such as higher input costs, have not been fully reflected in higher retail pricing for the 2022/23 season. Contract prices have increased 20%–30% across the EU for the 2023/24 marketing year (MY) to account for this.

Canada

Canada Reports Slightly Smaller Potato Stocks

As of January 11, 2023, the total amount of potatoes in all Canadian provinces is set at 3.54MMT which is slightly higher than the same period in 2022. The expansion of the Canadian potato cultivation area is the primary reason for the stocks of the past two years being higher than the long-term average. According to the United Potato Growers of Canada's stock estimate, Prince Edward Island, Alberta, and Manitoba still have the majority of their available potato supplies.

United Kingdom

Potato Shortage and Price Rise Warning as Farmers Turn Away From Britain’s Favourite Vegetable

There are worrying signs that UK farmers are beginning to abandon the potato, raising concerns about higher pricing and shortages for British consumers. Typically, potatoes are sown in the spring and harvested between late August and October. However, many farmers have already made the choice to allocate less land to Britain's favorite crop this year, while some have chosen to completely give up on potatoes.

India

Frost Causes Heavy Damage to Potato and Vegetable Crops in Northern India

Due to ground frost, potato producers in the country's northern regions have seen significant crop losses as a result of the drop in temperature in W2. Ground frost has affected various vegetable crops including mustard across fields in Punjab, Rajasthan, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh, while the potato crop has sustained the most damage. 

Peru

Protests in Peru Cause Food Shortages, Especially Potatoes

There is currently a problem with food shortages in some places in the south of the country as a result of the protests that are taking place, such as potatoes and some vegetables that come from Cusco and Puno. When it comes to price hikes, both in wholesale and retail sales, potatoes saw the biggest rises. In W3, the wholesale market now charges USD 0.83/kg for the cheapest potato, the yungai, which formerly sold for USD 0.52/kg. The price is a little bit higher in the retail sector than it is in supermarkets. Additionally, yellow potatoes saw the biggest price increases, from USD 1.29/kg to USD 1.81/kg. In the regional markets, its price reaches USD 2.59/kg.

Drop in Night Temperature Affects the Agricultural Sector, Including Potato 

Potato Production is Affected by a Drop in Nighttime Temperature. Low nighttime temperatures have been having an adverse effect on the health of the livestock industry as well as the primary crops, according to the National Meteorology and Hydrology Service of Peru (Senamhi). In addition, crops from the highlands and middle regions of Tacna and Arequipa, including broad beans, oats, and potatoes, displayed leaf wilting and damage from the cold. The cold weather will aggravate effects on major crops like potatoes, oats, broad beans, and others that are grown in elevations above 3,500 m in the southern sierra, such as leaf withering (burning), seedling death, and other problems.

Bolivia

Farmers in Bolivia Are the Most Affected

Several rural areas in Cochabamba, Santa Cruz, and La Paz are affected by rain, river overflows, and frosts that damage crops. Despite the fact that it is the rainy season, the drought will still affect a number of municipalities around the country, according to Civil Defense. The harsh weather in the altiplano region caused damage to the potato harvests in the Omasuyos province. Omasuyos also produces broad beans, peas, and other items from the family basket in addition to the tuber.

Colombia

A Kilo of Potatoes Would Reach USD 0.88, Says Fedepapa

The Colombian Federation of Potato Producers (Fedepapa) predicted that the price of pastusa potatoes would increase by USD 0.22/kg in the coming days due to the Pan-American highway being closed as a result of the landslide that occurred in the municipality of Rosas. Pastusa potatoes would cost between USD 0.66-0.88/kg. On the station, it is noted that the potato currently has two significant issues: first, the product loses quality as a result of delays in food transportation, and second, the harvest piles up as it is distributed to the major supply hubs.

Brazil

Tomatoes and Potatoes Register High in Brazil

While most fruits had price drops in December, potatoes and tomatoes saw price increases in the marketplaces.  One of the primary causes of the increase in potato and tomato quotations at the Centrals in the last month has been the transition of crops. The price rise for tubers reached 61.4% in Rio Branco. The conclusion of the winter harvest and the beginning of the water harvest, which is still insufficient to meet demand, account for this increase.

South Africa

No Shortage of French Fries After ‘Anti-dumping’ Ruling, Sufficient Supply of Fresh Potatoes

Following the imposition of significant "anti-dumping" tariffs on Belgian, German, and Dutch suppliers by the International Trade Administration Commission (Itac) in July of 2022, the domestic potato sector has convinced South Africans that it will be able to supply local demand for French fries. Fresh potato supplies in South Africa are adequate, and the coming year's estimates are optimistic. Additionally, there is sufficient supply to fulfill consumer and retail appetites as well as meet the demand for frozen chip manufacturing.