Potato prices have strengthened on the Polish market

2021-11-30 11:13

There is still a long way to go for potatoes to reach November/December 2019 prices in Poland. The current average price at large Polish wholesalers for 45+ calibre yellow varieties packed in bags is PLN 0.67/kg, and around 30 November 2019 it was as high as PLN 0.94/kg. But the current quotations are strengthening from time to time and are already short of the late November 2018 quotations (PLN 0.80/kg ).

The cited two seasons (2019/2020 and 2018/2019) were record-breaking in terms of prices for domestic potatoes. In others it was much worse. The current average price looks quite impressive compared to last year's (0.32 PLN/kg, so we have +109 per cent year-on-year), and yet last year's was not the worst. This can be seen on our chart.

Prices for 45+ calibre yellow potatoes are currently at 0.53-0.80 PLN/kg, depending on variety and quality. They have gained 17.5 per cent since the start of the month. Red 45+ potatoes are priced at 0.67-0.90 PLN per kilo (+17.9 per cent since the start of November) and white 45+ are currently priced at 0.70-0.93 PLN per kilo (+9 per cent).

The situation on the fresh market has therefore developed in November in a direction favourable for producers. Not only in Poland. Demand was good and, faced with limited supply, the upward trend in prices was maintained. In Europe, however, the potato sector is again facing threats similar to those of last year. Vaccination has failed to stop a pandemic and many European governments are reverting to a policy of complete lock downs, which means closing catering outlets. And this is hitting the wholesale fresh potato trade and the processing industry. The hope is that the new restrictions will not be as widespread and long-lasting as last year's. And that the market is already better prepared for such perturbations.

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