July/August 2020 - 24

GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES
EU producers feel impact of COVID
Cools details how Belgium, world's largest
frozen potato exporter, is handling situation
By Melanie Epp
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
I
t's not every day you get to meet a
world-renowned potato expert in
person, especially under current
conditions. But the rules around social
distancing have relaxed somewhat in
Belgium, which allowed me to meet
Romain Cools in person.
We talked about COVID-19's impact
on the Belgian potato market over a
cold beer for over two hours. Cools is
perhaps the most qualified person to
break down how COVID-19 impacted
the Western European potato market.
He's president and CEO of World
Potato Congress and Secretary General
of Belgapom, the trade association
that defends the interests of Belgium's
potato trade and processing sectors.
He's a lifelong " potato guy " who has
served as Secretary General of the
European Potato Trade
Association,
Europatat, and as Secretary General
of the European Potato Processors'
Association (EUPPA). In a nutshell, he
knows his stuff.
Cases of COVID-19 first began to
appear in Belgium in February, but the
government didn't start taking serious
action until mid-March when it shut
down schools and all restaurants, bars
and cafes. In the ensuing weeks, all
services but grocery stores, pharmacies,
home delivery and public transportation
shut down completely. Residents were
told to stay indoors in lockdown as
the authorities monitored the severity
of the pandemic. Restaurants, bars
and cafes reopened June 8, but with
restrictive protocols in place.
Belgium's potato market was hit
before the regulations began, though.
In the beginning of March, there was no
Belgapom price quote for free market
potatoes. Reefer containers were stuck
in Asia, and exports to that region of
the world dropped. On top of that, free
market potato purchases dropped.
Following that, export markets for
frozen potato products also collapsed,
as sales to the country's two largest
customers, Brazil and the Gulf states,
slowed to a halt. Exports outside of
Europe represent one-third of the
market. The other two-thirds of frozen
potato products are delivered within
Europe, of which the biggest customers
are France and the UK.
Nearly immediately, Belgapom made
an agreement to respect contracts with
its potato growers in Belgium and the
north of France, which represents 6070%
of the market. Contract prices
were high last year, said Cools. But
they are much more volatile than they
are in the U.S. and Canada, he added.
Free market potato prices were also
very good, which left farmers feeling
confident
at
the
time. When the
industry gave priority to contracts,
In January, all parts of the Belgian potato supply
chain joined forces to create a new professional
organization called Belpotato.be.
24
Spudman.com

http://www.Belpotato.be http://www.Spudman.com

July/August 2020

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