As of April 15, the Expana Benchmark Price (EBP) for English white potatoes stands at £270/metric tonne (MT), down by 18% month-on-month (m-o-m). The EBP for Maris Piper is currently at £290/MT, also reflecting a 12% m-o-m decline. Market sources describe demand for free-buy potatoes as subdued, with most packers covered by contracts and purchasing only limited volumes from the open market.
Typically, potato demand increases ahead of Easter, as consumers prepare traditional meals featuring roast lamb and potatoes. However, this year, contracted volumes have left packers well supplied, limiting the need for additional free-buy purchases. One market participant noted that if growers fail to sell the volumes they had anticipated for Easter, excess supply could put additional pressure on prices in the coming weeks. Following two wet harvests and tighter overall supply, buyers increased their use of contracts for the 2024/25 marketing year. As a result, reliance on free-buy volumes has remained limited throughout the season. Planting for the 2025 crop is now well under way. Weather conditions have been described as favourable, with sufficient sunshine enabling fieldwork and intermittent rain helping to condition the soil. Despite the positive start, market players cautioned that it is still early in the season, and conditions could change significantly before harvest.
English white potato prices are tracked in our commodity price database. Request a demo to see why Expana is market-leading.
Authored by:
Harry Campbell
Expana
[email protected]
