Potato Review

www.potatoreview.com POTATO REVIEW MARCH/APRIL 2023 53 INTERNATIONAL Wholesale prices up 13% in Uzbekistan THE average wholesale price for potatoes in Uzbekistan increased by 12.5% in the lead-up to Christmas, reaching its highest point since July. But wholesale prices were 10% lower than last year, according to specialists at East Fruit. Potatoes are the largest import within the country’s fruit and vegetable industry. ‘Too many potatoes’ AS prices for onions and carrots reached record highs in Ukraine, the opposite has been true for potatoes, which have been over-produced, leading to much-reduced prices and minimal incomes for growers. EastFruit analysts have reported that prices for some vegetables in Ukraine at the end of 2022 were record high, and for others – record low. The main reason was a full-scale military invasion by Russian aggressors, which destroyed production in southern Ukraine and all logistics, and forced millions of Ukrainians to leave their homes in search of asylum abroad. The opposite was true for potatoes. The main potato-producing regions were not occupied by Russian aggressors or were liberated in time for the resumption of fieldwork. In addition, fearing a lack of access to food, people have dramatically increased the areas planted with potatoes, which has led to their oversupply on the market. The average wholesale price for potatoes at the end of 2022 in Ukraine was only 11% higher in UAH than last year, but 17% lower in USD. In fact, the price of $0.14 on December 30th was the lowest ever. There was no potato growers’ income at this wholesale price since it did not even cover the costs for the purchase of high-quality seed material, and this may have a negative influence on potato production in 2023. Korean production continues declining DOMESTIC Korean potato production is expected to continue declining in coming years, which is likely to lead to more chipping and table varieties being imported from the US, a recent report by the US Department of Agriculture reveals. South Korea’s 2022 potato production decreased by 9.5% to 510,000 MT and further decreases are envisaged going forwards. Korea’s potato consumption is expected to rise by 2.5 %in 2023 owing to increased demand for prepared potato products, which have traditionally dominated Korean potato imports. Korea’s potato and potato product imports increased by 17% to 227,000 MT. The main reason for this was strong demand for frozen French fries in the food service sector. WTOupholds Columbia anti-dumping decision ARBITRATORS from the World Trade Organisation have ruled in favour of the EU following an appeal by Columbia regarding its anti-dumping duties on frozen fries originating from Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands. Colombian-imposed taxes that were put into place in November 2018 a¢ect 85% of the frozen fries exported to Colombia from the three EU countries. The EU disputed this in November 2019 and a WTO panel ruled in the EU’s favour in October 2022, after which Colombia appealed. Colombia must now bring itself into compliance with the ruling, either immediately or within a time limit agreed with the EU or set by a WTO arbitrator. If Colombia does not comply, the EU can get WTO authorization to adopt countermeasures. Short lm shows seed journey THE Potato Valley, a seed potato cultivation knowledge network platform in the north of the Netherlands, recently commissioned a short film featuring the crop being cultivated in the Netherlands, shipped from the port of Harlingen, and supplied to people in Morocco and Israel. The country exports around 800,000 tons of seed potatoes to destinations in Europe, Africa, Asia, and Central America, where growers can cultivate more than 30 million tons. ‘German potatoes still a ordable’ POTATOES are still a product everyone can a¢ord, according to German organisation, Palatinate Grumbeere, whose growers cultivate 4,000 hectares of early potatoes. In a recent interview, the organisation’s Chairman Hartmut Magin, its first deputy chairman Johannes Zehfuß and the second deputy chairman, Markus Frank said early potatoes from Pfälzer Grumbeere recorded good sales but some products had to be discarded owing to small skin defects. There were no major crop losses in the early season.