Europe: Heat and drought could change the course of the potato market

Less than a month ago, COAG (the Spanish Confederation of Agricultural Organizations) issued a complaint stating that the traditional potato omelet was no longer considered "Spanish" due to the massive influx of French potatoes. However, weather conditions could change this situation. The Interprofessional Potato Organization of Castile and León (OIPACYL) has urged producers to act cautiously and remain vigilant regarding market developments in the coming weeks. This is due to various reports from different potato-producing regions in Europe suggesting potential negative effects of high temperatures and water scarcity on crops. The initial context of the season appears to be undergoing changes.

At the beginning of the year, during an event organized by OIPACYL in January that brought together numerous producers and specialists from both the national and international spheres, it was already warned that 2026 could present significant challenges for the sector.

The 2025 harvest resulted in a considerable surplus, and although planting forecasts for 2026 were lower, they remained high. This suggested a large supply of potatoes on the European market. Given this scenario, OIPACYL advised farmers to plant under contract and minimize their exposure to fluctuations in the free market. Horticulture

A CAMPAIGN START INFLUENCED BY EUROPEAN OFFERS

The start of the Spanish season largely confirmed these expectations. The abundant supply of European potatoes from the previous season put pressure on the market, negatively impacting the  prices received by local producers.

However, OIPACYL believes it is necessary to carefully observe the current situation in Europe before forming a judgment on the full development of the campaign.

High temperatures and low rainfall are severely impacting many European agricultural areas. At the end of July, the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) warned that exceptional heat and reduced rainfall in Western and Central Europe had decreased soil moisture, restricted biomass accumulation, and affected critical growth stages of several spring and summer crops.

The European Drought Observatory has also indicated that drought conditions remain critical across much of Europe, even worsening in certain areas of the central and western parts of the continent.

Although the Interprofessional Association warns that these reports consider the general state of the crops and do not yet allow quantifying a possible reduction in European potato production, they acknowledge that weather conditions are causing water and heat stress in important agricultural areas. Fruitsand vegetables

ACT WITH CAUTION BEFORE DECIDING

In light of this situation, OIPACYL suggests that Spanish producers proceed with caution.

The organization is gathering information on the state of the crop in the main European producing countries and considers it premature to speculate on how much the yield might decrease or its impact on the market.

“A few months ago, it seemed clear that the market was dominated by oversupply. Today, European weather patterns require us to be vigilant. We don’t yet have clear data on their true impact on potato production, but we believe that farmers should have all the information before rushing into decisions,” says Eduardo Arroyo, president of OIPACYL.

The Interprofessional Association emphasizes that it is not about predicting a price increase or generating unfounded expectations, but about warning about the change in the European landscape that could affect the balance between supply and demand for potatoes.

OIPACYL will continue to collect data from the main European producing markets and regions to inform the sector as more accurate information becomes available.

Source: agroinformacion.com

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