Spain: Low yields and low demand for new Andalusian potatoes

The early potato harvest from the Guadalquivir Valley is entering its final stretch with results far below expectations. 

The harvest began late, well into May, and now everything has been harvested, except for small patches in cool areas of Cádiz and plots designated for processing in Córdoba. This season has been marked by heavy rains during the winter and spring, which, while helping to alleviate the accumulated drought, have negatively impacted the crop.

Minimum yields

The effects of the weather have resulted in a significant drop in yields per hectare. Under normal conditions, Seville averages 40 tons per hectare, and even 50 on more productive farms. But this year, the average has remained between 20,000 and 25,000 kilos, so the reduction is close to 40%.

Adding to this situation is a complex marketing environment, with very subdued demand in both the domestic and European markets. "The Seville campaign is traditionally split 50/50 between exports and the Spanish market, but this year both drivers have failed," explain various sources.

Saturated Europe and falling domestic consumption

On the international level, the main importing countries of Spanish potatoes—Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Denmark—have significantly reduced their purchases, as they had a large stock of old potatoes in storage and, in addition, had previously made significant imports from Israel and Egypt. The domestic market has also failed to provide the expected boost. Retail chains have significantly cut orders, by an estimated 20%.

The timing of the crop’s overlap with the Cartagena campaign, which has seen better production results, has further hampered the export of Seville’s produce. "The market hasn’t digested all the available potatoes well. Many have had to be stored in cold storage, awaiting gradual release," the sources consulted indicate.

With the Seville campaign practically over, the sector’s attention is now focused on potatoes from the central Iberian Peninsula, which will begin harvesting in the coming weeks.