A 10-million-tonne drop in the EU potato harvest has fuelled a surge in Irish spud prices. Supplies across Europe have fallen 13.5pc this harvest, dropping from 64.6 million tonnes in 2017 to 54.4 million tonnes this year, as a result of this summer’s drought.
The shortage of supplies across the EU has been reflected in a sharp increase in local prices, which have increased to €450-500/t for main-crop varieties. This represents almost a doubling in price compared to 2017, when supplies generally made €220-280/t.
Industry sources point out that the absence of imported alternatives for the service end of the market has helped put a floor on the trade.
