UK potato demand picks up ahead of Christmas
With the UK harvest completed and potatoes now in storage, sources have reported an increase in market activity. Packers are preparing for the seasonal demand uptick leading up to Christmas.
The Expana Benchmark Price (EBP) for English white potatoes stands at £330/mt after the assessment on November 27, down 3% compared to last year. In recent weeks, a wide range of prices have been reported to Expana for both White and Maris Piper potatoes in Scotland and England. Some of the prices heard this week reached £370/mt for English White potatoes and £350/mt for Scottish White potatoes, with Maris Piper potatoes for both regions at similar levels to the white potatoes.
According to a market source, "some growers are still holding onto their stocks, expecting prices to climb to £400/mt".
Reasons for the large price spread come down to the quantity purchased, with larger blocks costing more to secure, and some packers procuring specific varieties in large quantities which is also attached to a premium price.
Fuente: mintecglobal.com
