Europe: Potato prices continue to fall - farmers can’t get rid of their harvest

Industry demand for non-contracted processing potatoes on the spot market in Northwest Europe is currently approaching zero. As a result, no quotations were recorded – neither by the Rhineland Potato Producers’ Association (REKA), nor by the Belgian quoting agencies Fiwap, Viaverda, and Belgapom, nor by the Dutch Potato NL. The only alternative, in some cases, is the utilization of the free product via the feed trough and the generation of biogas. In the Netherlands, the bankruptcy of the processor CêlaVíta in Wezep made the situation even more difficult. The company’s contracted volume is estimated at approximately 100,000 tons of potatoes annually.

At the European Energy Exchange (EEX) in Leipzig, the downward trend in the futures price for processing potatoes for delivery in April 2026 recently continued. On Monday, August 25, the contract closed at €7.50/dt. This corresponds to the lowest price level for April contracts since April 2021. At the time of planting, around mid-March of this year, the price had fluctuated between €22 and €23/dt. 

Potato prices fall sharply - supply too large

The reason for the price decline is that weak demand is facing a huge supply. The potato cultivation area in Germany, as well as in many Western and Central European countries, has grown significantly . This is also pushing a lot of free produce onto the market. 

According to the preliminary results of the main land use survey conducted on August 1, potatoes are grown on 301,000 hectares in Germany . This is 19,000 hectares, or 6.7%, more than in the previous year . Overall, the potato cultivation area has grown by 43,000 hectares since 2021, but 4,000 hectares fewer starch potatoes are being cultivated.

Cultivation area continues to grow - potatoes flood the market

According to recent estimates , this year’s area for table potatoes in Germany, France, Belgium, and the Netherlands totals just over 650,000 hectares; this would represent an increase of 8.3% compared to 2024. 

Jasper Roubos, chairman of the Dutch Potato Growers’ Association (POC), advocates reducing the Northwest European area used for French fries for the 2026 harvest by approximately 15% compared to the previous year in order to better match supply and demand in the next marketing season. However, he emphasized that this requires consultation.

Potatoes: Producer prices continue to decline, harvest is going well

According to analysts, sales of French fries and chips are also weakening . The appreciation of the euro has worsened export competitiveness. Furthermore, tariffs are unsettling market players.

Regarding the market for table potatoes, the Lower Saxony Chamber of Agriculture reported further declines in producer prices. Meanwhile, harvesting operations are generally progressing rapidly, with consistently good yields. However, the chamber added that the abundant supply is offset by continued weak demand . Sales to food retailers are quiet, although the sometimes very high summer temperatures have dampened consumer demand. Mail order and export trade have been similarly sluggish. Therefore, farmers are hoping that stockpiling goods could ease the pressure on the market. 

According to the North Rhine-Westphalia Chamber of Agriculture, neither promotional campaigns by food retailers nor the end of the school holidays in some federal states were able to offset the increased supply of potatoes.