Larger potato exports to Germany this year

Germany has a very large potato harvest of its own this season. Nevertheless, more Dutch potatoes are going to the eastern neighbours than normal. In May, Germany imported a total of 11,119 tonnes of ware potatoes and potatoes for the processing industry from the Netherlands, according to figures from the Dutch Potato Organisation (NAO). This brings the total sales of Dutch ware potatoes to this country to 81,849 tonnes. That is almost twice as much as in the same period last year. In the past two years, exports to Germany in May were between 2,500 and 3,000 tonnes. The differences with previous years were also large in December and April. In April of this year, more than 17,000 tonnes went from the Netherlands to Germany. France and Belgium also have a surplus of potatoes this season. In that light, the export figures to these countries are not too bad. France imported around 3,500 tonnes in May, bringing the current total of exports to this country to 52,000 tonnes. This amount is 3% larger than a year ago. Belgium is traditionally the largest buyer of Dutch potatoes. In May, just under 40,000 tonnes went to our southern neighbours. The total export to this country amounts to more than 320,000 tonnes. That is 7% less than last year, but given the large surpluses, that is a relatively limited decline. Total Dutch exports of ware potatoes and potatoes for the processing industry amounted to just under 67,000 tonnes in May. The total for this season therefore comes to 647,094 tonnes. Exports are therefore only fractionally higher than a year ago. This season, fewer potatoes are mainly going to the United Kingdom, Ukraine and Switzerland. That offsets the larger sales within the EU and to Africa and Asia.