The potato market in Greece is undergoing a significant change as local supplies from important areas like Nevrokopi and Ano Vrontou in Serres are running low. With very few potatoes left from the harvests in southern Greece, the country is now looking to imports from France, Cyprus, and Egypt to satisfy demand. Egypt is expected to be a key player in filling this supply gap until May.
Charalampos Bartzokas, who runs Bartzokas Co Hellenic Customs Brokers, has reported that potato imports from Egypt have begun, with an estimated total of around 100,000 tons expected. His company is based in Piraeus, Greece’s main port, and he mentioned that even though the demand is still high, there have been some minor delays in the arrival of shipments to both Piraeus and Thessaloniki. Additionally, smaller shipments of Egyptian potatoes are likely to arrive at the ports of Kiato and Astakos.
This situation is a big improvement from last year, when many shipments from Egypt were turned away because of quarantine bacteria found in 30 regions. While these bacteria are harmless to people, they can pose risks to plants, which led to import bans from those areas. This year, however, restrictions are only affecting two regions in Egypt, making it easier to import.
Although the full volume of Egyptian potato imports hasn’t yet arrived, it’s expected to happen in the upcoming weeks, as demand for Egyptian potatoes typically peaks in March and April. As of the third week of February, the prices for Egyptian potatoes were between €0.40 and €0.44 per kilogram, with prices at the Athens Central Market averaging €0.58 per kilogram. However, it’s hard to predict how prices will change in the future.
Looking at the bigger picture, Egypt has become a major supplier of potatoes to Greece. In the 2023/24 marketing year, over 156,000 tons of Egyptian potatoes were imported, making up around 65% of all potatoes brought into Greece. This is a 12% increase from last year and a 71% increase from the 2021/22 season, marking a record high. Following Egypt, France and Cyprus were also significant suppliers, providing 12.8% and 9.1% of imports, respectively. The rise in imports is linked to increased local consumption and export activities, with Greece consuming around 301,000 tons of potatoes in 2022, a 12% rise from the year before. Greece has also expanded its exports, sending nearly 80,000 tons of potatoes during the 2023/24 season to countries like Romania, Bulgaria, and Poland.
These trends illustrate the lively relationship between Egypt and Greece in the potato trade, demonstrating how Egypt is helping stabilize the Greek market amidst challenges in local supplies.
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