Europe: Potato prices plummet and fall below zero.
The European potato market is facing strong pressure as a result of a significant surplus, leading to producers, in some cases, having to absorb additional costs in order to sell their product.
Farmers in the Netherlands, along with their counterparts in Belgium, Germany, and France, have experienced remarkable growth in potato cultivation over the past two years. This increase has been driven by strong demand and attractive prices negotiated with the processing industry. In 2025, favorable weather conditions facilitated exceptional yields, resulting in a bountiful harvest.
However, the situation has taken a turn for the worse, as demand for potatoes has decreased considerably. Factors such as increased competition from Asia, the imposition of import tariffs in the United States, and the depreciation of the dollar are negatively impacting the export capacity of European farmers, resulting in a structural surplus.
This oversupply is directly impacting prices. PotatoNL has recently reported negative values of between €1.00 and €2.00 per 100 kilograms of potatoes destined for animal feed, while potato chip prices barely exceed those levels. In response to the surplus, more produce is being diverted to animal feed and biodigestion. Furthermore, the costs associated with disposing of the surplus are falling on the producers themselves, exacerbated by the continued rise in transport costs.
Fuente: dcamarketintelligence.com
