WHILE potato stock levels hit a record 2.4m tonnes in January – up 25% on last year – drawdown levels are also at historic highs.

According to the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board's stats, the rate at which they were drawn from store was the most since 2010, when it began measuring stock.

This adds up to stock levels held by growers close to 0.5m tonnes, compared to end-January 2017. But, from November to January, 2018, 1.19m tonnes were drawn from growers' stores – almost 0.25m tonnes more than the same period last season and 14% higher than the five-year average drawdown rate.

Peter Collier, an analyst with AHDB, said: “Retail sales of fresh potatoes were up 3.6% in the three-month period to the end of January, as measured by Kantar Worldpanel. While this is good news, it does not entirely explain the increase in drawdown rate.

“Another factor is a greater level of grade outs in this year’s crop. With quality reported to be reduced in 2017/18, there has been an increased tonnage requirement to meet specifications, as seen by reports of a higher ‘out grade’ percentage than usual.”

AHDB Potatoes has released a new storage dashboard on Potato Data Centre, where users can examine data on the region or market sector pertinent to them. This portal also includes the ability to distinguish between stock held that is intended to fill a ‘on-contract’ purchase and stock for the ‘free-buy’ market.

There is a chance, that despite these record stock levels, the market could still ‘tighten’ as the season progresses.

Mr Collier added: “The delayed, wet start to 2018/19 earlies planting could see this marketing season extended, causing a tightening of supplies before the new crop is lifted.”