Poland: Who Buys Polish Potatoes? Export Data Surprising
In 2024, 12,000 tons of Polish potatoes were exported to 14 European Union countries, and nearly 25,000 tons were exported outside the EU, reaching five non-EU countries. Where were the most exported?
- Compared to the volume of production, domestic potato export opportunities remain relatively small.
- Potato exports depend on trade policies and cooperation between countries.
- Competition in the European potato market is strong, especially from countries such as Germany, the Netherlands and France.
Despite the difficult season, preliminary estimates indicate a fairly favorable potato harvest this year in our country.
In 2024, the average national yield was 302 dt/ha, according to the Central Statistical Office. We can initially forecast that this year’s autumn harvest will reach as much as 330 dt/ha, which would mean a harvest of 7.4 million tons, compared to 5.9 million tons the year before, said Dr. Wojciech Nowacki of the Polish Potato Association recently.
Therefore, exporting 37,000 tons of potatoes, compared to a domestic harvest of 5.9 million, doesn’t exactly inspire optimism. Added to this is the import of young potatoes, especially when Polish potatoes aren’t yet available on the market. Why are Polish potatoes so difficult to export?
- Since potatoes can carry numerous pests that pose a serious threat to plant health, their transport within the European Union and export outside the EU takes place under the strict supervision of the State Plant Health and Seed Inspection Service (PIORiN), explains PIORIN.
Potato export is complicated
When shipping market potatoes from Poland to other EU countries, each batch must be accompanied by a plant passport. This is because Poland has a higher incidence of the bacterium Clavibacter sepedonicus, which causes potato ring rot, than the EU average. Plant passports are issued by provincial inspectors (WIORiN) after confirming that the potatoes are free of this bacterium or originate from production sites overseen by the Inspectorate and recognized as free of Clavibacter sepedonicus.
However, a phytosanitary certificate is required for exporting potatoes to non-EU countries. This document is issued by the VIOPiN after verifying that the shipment complies with the phytosanitary regulations of the recipient country. The scope of the inspection (inspection of tubers, sampling, laboratory testing) depends on the requirements of the country to which the potatoes are being exported.
Lubuskie is a leader in exports. But that’s still not enough.
In 2024, ware potatoes were shipped to other European Union countries from 13 voivodeships, with a total tonnage of 12,018 tons. The Lubusz Voivodeship accounted for the largest export of potatoes – 5,640 tons, accounting for almost half of all shipments to EU countries. Next were the Silesian Voivodeship (1,302 tons), Podlaskie Voivodeship (1,126 tons), and Łódzkie Voivodeship (1,092 tons).
Potatoes were shipped to countries including Romania, Germany, Bulgaria, Hungary, the Czech Republic, France, Italy, and Ireland. The largest destination was the Lubusz Voivodeship, from where potatoes were shipped to eight EU member states.
Total tonnage data from individual voivodeships:
- Lubuskie: 5,640 t – including Romania, Bulgaria, Germany, Italy
- Silesia: 1,302 t – Czech Republic
- Podlaskie: 1,126 t – Bulgaria
- Łódzkie: 1,092 t – Romania, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, Finland
- West Pomerania: 700 t – Hungary, Germany
- Lublin Voivodeship: 689 t – Hungary, Bulgaria, the Netherlands, Belgium, Ireland
- Greater Poland: 443 t – Romania, Ireland, Czech Republic
- Lesser Poland: 368 t – Ireland, Hungary
- Mazowieckie: 238 t – Bulgaria, GermanyOpolskie: 158 t – Czech Republic
- Warmia-Masuria: 115 t – Belgium
- Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship: 123 t – Romania, Hungary
- Pomerania: 24 t – Italy
Romania and Bulgaria interested in Polish potatoes
The European Union countries where the largest quantities of commercial potato tubers were sent were: Romania – 3,892 t, Bulgaria – 3,262 t, the Czech Republic – 1,606 t and Hungary – 1,186 t. However, it should be noted that not in every case at the stage of issuing the plant passport the entity declared the country to which the potatoes would be moved, which is permissible.
Where do Polish potatoes go outside the EU?
According to the Polish Institute of Plant Health and Inspection (PIORiN), exports of ware potatoes to countries outside the European Union were made from 12 voivodeships. The largest quantities were shipped from the following voivodeships: Lubuskie – 6,873 tonnes, Świętokrzyskie – 5,582 tonnes, Łódzkie – 2,777 tonnes, and Wielkopolskie – 2,678 tonnes.
The countries outside the European Union where commodity potatoes were exported were: Ukraine – 19,442 t, Moldova – 4,766 t, Great Britain – 508 t, Norway – 96 t and Serbia – 72 t.
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