Belgian potato stocks are estimated to be 800,000 tonnes higher than last year.
As of November 15, total potato stocks are estimated at 4.11 million tons, exceeding the average of the last three years.
Belgian gross production in 2025 is estimated at 5.29 million tonnes
Taking into account the proportions of areas and yields by main varieties, the total gross production of Belgian ware potatoes (including early varieties) for 2025 is estimated at 5.29 Mt (see table 3 ), up 24% compared to last year.
We have to go back to 2017 to find a production exceeding 5 Mt. This strong production results from a 7% increase in surface area, which corresponds to the 4th consecutive year with significant growth, and a yield of 6.2 t/ha.
In recent years, Belgian production has remained around 4 Mt:
– In 2021 and 2022, the areas were smaller and the 2022 yield was low.
– In 2023, the initial production was higher but 400,000 tonnes remained in the field.
– In 2024, the areas already exceeded 100,000 ha but with low yields.
The distribution of production among varieties is shown in Table 4. The 2025 production of early varieties is estimated at 330,000 tonnes. Among storage varieties, Fontane accounts for 58% of Belgian production. Innovator and Challenger each produce approximately 300,000 tonnes.
The average gross yield at field exit in 2025 (including early varieties) is estimated at 49.0 t/ha . This is the highest yield since 2017. The average for the last 5 years is 44.8 t/ha.
Important: This is the gross yield at the field exit! It therefore includes the potato tare (green, misshapen, cracked, rotten potatoes), which has been estimated at between 1 and 8% (including 8% for Fontane and Innovator varieties) based on Fiwap/Carah/Viaverda/Inagro/VG-LV reference samples for the four main varieties. Damage (blue spots, etc.) is not included in this 1 to 8% figure, even though it constitutes a major quality problem leading to rejections or price reductions upon delivery.
The survey attempted to assess the volumes of produce diverted to alternative markets. These volumes were found to be minimal (around 0.5% in Flanders, 0.2% in Wallonia) and initially involved early-maturing varieties that did not find buyers in time. The survey did not estimate the tonnage diverted by traders or industry for use in biomethanization, livestock feed, etc.
According to the survey, 74% of the volume produced in Belgium of storage varieties is under contract. This proportion is the highest since 2020; the five-year average is 72%.
Fontane is contracted at 71%, Innovator at 86%, Challenger at 79%, Bintje at 61%, and the other varieties at an average of 79%. Compared to last year, these percentages are all up.
Article full: sillonbelge.be/16001/article/2025-12-12/evaluation-
Fuente: sillonbelge.be
