W8: Weekly Common & Sweet Potato Update
Potato
Russia
Due to a marketing issue, the Potato Union recommended that the Ministry of Agriculture impose limitations on the import of potatoes to Russia. Products have accumulated in warehouses in historic amounts. They claim that as a result of the high harvest, wholesale prices fell significantly. According to data from the Ministry of Agriculture, the total amount of potatoes harvested in 2022 increased by 4.3% YoY to 18.7MMT, and at the start of February, prices in the wholesale market decreased by 37.3% to USD 0.23/kg. Producers stored potatoes in storage facilities in anticipation of a price hike. As a result, 40-60% of the produce was stored in packed warehouses.
Netherlands
Relatively Many Seed Potatoes Shipped to Asia
Almost 112K MT of the 460K MT of seed potatoes made it to Asian markets. About 12K MT went in that direction in January. Iraq and Saudi Arabia, in particular, are purchasing significantly more during this sales season than in prior ones. The latter has already purchased nearly twice as many metric tonnes (MT) of Dutch seed potatoes as it did the year before. This season, 19K MT have been imported by Iraq. Dutch seed potatoes were purchased by Africa in an amount of 188K MT until January 31. With 88K MT thus far, Algeria is the leading buyer, followed by Egypt (44K MT) and Morocco (28K MT).
United States
National Potato Council Wants Stronger Potato Wart Management
Without additional mitigation measures, the National Potato Council claims there is a high probability that potato warts might enter the United States from Canada. As a result of several fungal detections over the past two years, a ban is currently in place on all seed potatoes from Prince Edward Island, Canada, but table stock potatoes are exempt. Research by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and the USDA confirms the threat is most likely greater than is currently acknowledged.
Canada
Potato Farmers From Prince Edward Island Suffer Revenue Loss Due to Export Bans
Potato farmers of Prince Edward Island (PEI) called for the remaining restrictions to be lifted following the discovery of potato warts in some of the province’s fields in 2021. The call follows a report from the International Advisory Panel on potato warts which shows that PEI is considered a pest-free area. While the restrictions have been lifted seed potatoes are still banned from the United States and cannot be sold to other Canadian provinces. Industry experts have estimated a loss of USD 50M in revenue YoY.
Uzbekistan
For the First Time in the Past Few Years, Potato Imports to Uzbekistan Have Decreased
For the first time in a few years, Uzbekistan saw a decline in the volume of marketable potato imports in 2022. As a result, potatoes now account for the majority of Uzbekistan's fruit and vegetable imports, which climbed from 193.6K MT to 547.2K MT between 2017 and 2021. According to statistics on global commerce, 532.5K MT of marketable potatoes were imported into Uzbekistan between January and December 2022, which is 14.7K MT or 2.7% less than in 2021.
India
Poor Demand and Yield, Double Blow for Punjab’s Potato Growers
A 20% output loss and roughly 40% lower prices than anticipated at the beginning of harvesting are hitting farmers. In Punjab, potatoes were planted on over 1.1 lakh hectares this growing season. Compared to the average output of 150–160 quintals per acre, farmers have received close to 100–110 quintals per acre. Farmers claim that the average price at this moment in time should have been USD 7.26 per quintal, but the price is currently hovering between USD 4.24 and USD 4.84 per quintal. They claimed that, at the going rates, they were barely breaking even on their input costs. Typically, potatoes are sown between the middle of October and November. The crop was sown by farmers in the first week of October, and they received a normal yield, but few.
Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan Increased Exports and Reduced Imports of Potatoes
Results from 2022 indicated a decline in potato imports of 51.6%. If 97.6K MT of potatoes were imported in 2021, then just 47.3K MT of goods would have been imported in 2022. Statistics show that in 2022, there was a 1.2% increase in 2021 in the gross potato harvest, which came to 4.1MMT. Namely, 588K MT of products were produced by agricultural firms, 1.5MMT by individual business owners and peasant or farm enterprises, and 1.9MMT by families last year.
Hungary
Hungarian Potatoes Have Run Out, but Will Imports Be Enough During the Price Freeze?
Table potatoes and fresh eggs are included in the list of foods that are subject to the price cap as of November 9, 2022. The food price freeze was originally only supposed to last until December 31 following the regulations, but at the end of 2022, it was extended until April 30, 2023. It was uncertain for how long domestic stocks of table potatoes would be adequate. Quantitative monitoring in September revealed that the harvest of potatoes in Western Europe was also lower and that the aesthetic quality of the crop was also lower. Overall, it can be said that the harvest of potatoes was 8–12% lower than in a typical year, which will also have an impact on the number of potatoes available for Peruvian import.
Peru
The High Price of Fertilizers Hits the Production of Potatoes in Peru
Peru produced 264,091MT of potatoes in December 2022, a 12.5% YoY decline. The last four months of 2022 saw a decline in potato production as a result of higher chemical fertilizer prices, which "reduced farmers' access to these inputs." The Andean region of Ancash (-65.8%), the northern region of Piura (-56%), and the southern region of Apurmac (-52.2%) were among the departments that in December displayed a worse performance in the production of this tuber, of which Peru has more than 3,500 varieties. Along with other cities, production decreased in Huancavelica (-50.3%), Moquegua (-45.5%), Ayacucho (-40.4%), and Cuzco (-36.8%), while Amazonas and La Libertad in Lima saw increases of 39.5%, 20.2%, and 16.4%, respectively.
Sweet Potato
Vietnam
The Trade Promotion Department recommended Yunnan (China) establish advantageous conditions for Vietnamese businesses to encourage the export of Vietnam's superior agricultural and aquatic products to the Chinese market through authorized channels. particularly goods like durian, purple sweet potatoes, and bird's nests.
