Potato Weekly - 11 December 2020

• In the run up to Christmas, free-buy trade is said to be lacking the festive boost, with demand met mostly on contract so far.
• For some areas in lower tiers, free-buy demand has reportedly picked up for pubs and restaurants back open.
• Anecdotal reports of storage issues emerged this week, posing further concern for potatoes lifted wet quite early on.

Packing

• Free-buy trade for packing is described as ‘stop/start’ this week, with demand fulfilled primarily on contract.
• Retailers seem to be preparing for Christmas demand next week. However, uncertainty still surrounds what consumer demand will look like this year for a Christmas in ‘social bubbles’.

England

Scotland

Bags

• Free-buy demand remains slow this week, despite moving towards Christmas.
• For some areas experiencing reduced restrictions in tier 1 and 2, there has been some pickup in free-buy demand, but still lacking from last year.

East

West

South

Processing

• Despite the foodservice sector still being reasonably quiet, some reports of peeling and prepping trade have been up this week.
• Nonetheless in comparison to previous year’s at Christmas time, free-buy demand falls short and a high proportion of requirement is being fulfilled on contract.

Exports

• With the end of the transitionary EU exit period nearly upon us, exports have reportedly ramped up in preparation for reduced access to markets come 1 January 2021.
• Reports detail exports heading to Ireland, Belgium, and the Canary Islands this week.
• Supplies of King Edwards are anecdotally said to be tightening this week, but due to insufficient quotes, we are unable to publish a King Edward’s price.

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