Potato Acreage 2012 down 6% in North western Europe

Last week, the North-western European Potato Growers (NEPG) provided an update on the potato acreage in NW Europe (Belgium, Germany, France the Netherlands and the United Kingdom).

For all five countries, official potato acreages now have been published. Compared to harvest 2011, overall potato acreage has decreased by 6% (minus 32.000 ha) and is estimated at 513.000 ha. Acreage decreased in all countries, with the most prominent decreases in Belgium (-6.9%) and Germany (-9.2%)

2012 Potato Yield expectations

Both France and Belgium have published initial test harvest results late last week. The results show major differences between main crop potatoes planted late March/early April compared to end of May/ early June. Current yield estimates are well below last year's potato yields, in France as much as 36% lower.
 

Last week the first main crop potatoes were harvested in France's Beauce Region and yields are considerable lower than last year.

Potato prices are supported by the low acreage as well as by the low yields in the test harvests.

However, NEPG warns that it is too early for a final yield estimates, even though initial results indicate low yields. If yields are average NEPG expects a potato production below 24 million tonnes, 3 million ton below last year's production.

Quality of the early potatoes in Germany is good. Tuber sizes are small in all NEPG countries. NEPG reported on August 6 2012 prices of early potatoes were 10% higher than for harvest 2011.

The picture in the Netherlands varies by region. Several regions are expecting lower yields due to water damage.

The NEPG expects the combination of an acreage reduction of 32.000 ha and a lower yield will negatively influence the total production in the 5 North Western European Countries and result in upwards price pressure. There will be no record harvest in 2012...