Potato storages are lower than during the two previous years. In mid-January, the inventory level at farms was 108 million kilos of food potatoes. This is 24 million kilos less than during the previous year, which is caused by a much smaller harvest from last summer and significant export activities to Russia.

In mid-January, the inventory level was a total of 122 million kilos of food and processed food potatoes. This is 38 million kilos less than in January 2010. The inventory balances were reduced from October by 116 million kilos, which is significantly more than last year. Compared to the 2009/2010 winter, both the food and processed food potatoes inventories have diminished significantly more, even though the reduction in inventory levels for food potatoes is at the same level as last year. In light of this statistic, it would appear that some of the potatoes originally intended as processed food potatoes are being sold as food potatoes.

In mid-October, the inventory level of food potatoes in storages was approximately 200 million kilos. The amount is approximately 25 million kilos less than the previous year, due to the inferior harvest in 2010. In mid-January, the balance of remaining food potatoes in inventory was 108 million kilos, which is 24 million kilos less than in 2010. A majority of the inventory of food potatoes was in Ostrobothnia, as 82 million kilos of the food potatoes were in the three Centres for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment in the Ostrobothnia region. The amount equals 76% of the total inventory balance of potatoes.

Export is diminishing inventory levels
In addition to domestic consumption, exports have done well. According to the statistics by the Finnish Customs, exports of food potatoes between October and November reached 12 million kilos, when the export balance in 2009 for the same time-frame was less than three million kilos. According to Evira (Finnish Food Safety Authority), a total of 33 million kilos of food potatoes was exported outside of the EU area between 1 July 2010 and 31 December 2010. The balance for the same time period last year was 8 million kilos. The information is obtained based on the export statistics reported for countries outside of the EU.

A majority of the exports have went to Russia. The export of Finnish potatoes to Russia has been increased by the poor potato harvest in Russia caused by exceptionally dry conditions. Potato harvests have remained poor elsewhere in Europe as well.

According to the preliminary information from Tike’s crop production statistics, last year’s food and processed food potato harvest was a total of 389 million kilos, which is 63 million kilos less than the previous year. The harvest was diminished by the smaller farming area and the dry conditions.

Smaller potato crops, when compared to the previous year, has also placed an upward pressure on the price of food potatoes. According to Tike’s producer prices of agricultural products statistics the producer price of food potatoes in December was 19 cents/kilo, which is 90 per cent higher than in 2009. In contrast, the producer prices for potatoes in 2009 were exceptionally low.

Background of the statistics
The farms that grow food and processed food potatoes were obtained from the agricultural administration's information system. The survey of food potato stocks was directed to farms that grew food and processed food potatoes in areas that exceed 2 hectares. There were a total of 940 farms that met the criteria in 2010 and their total potato farming area was 13,874 hectares. The survey was conducted as a sample of 400 farms. The response percentage was 90%.

The statistic does not include Åland, as potato production there focuses on industrial processing potatoes (e.g. french fries).

For additional information:
Anna-Kaisa Jaakkonen, Tike, tel. 020 77 21 374,
Email addresses are in firstname.lastname@mmmtike.fi

Datatables and figures:
Food potato storage statistics
Order statistics

More information:
Crop Production Statistics
Prices for Agricultural Products