EU forecasts a significant reduction in potato areas

Key potato-producing countries in the European Union will reduce the area sown in the MY 2026/27. This is reported by the analytical agency Expana.

The North-West European Potato Association has urged farmers to plant only the volume that they can realistically sell at a fair price, as the long-term viability of the sector requires a balanced approach. Currently, there are very few opportunities for free sales from European producers, and, according to sources, many of them are ready to ship their products for free simply to get rid of the remains.

According to official data, the Federal Statistical Office of Germany predicts the area sown to potatoes in the country at 280.4 thousand hectares, which is 7.1% less than last year. In France, a decrease of 5.2% is expected, although this indicator still remains the second largest in the history of observations. The biggest decline is seen in Belgium, where the total area will decrease by 14.5%, and in the Flemish region by around 19%.

The European Commission forecasts a 4% decline in potato yields. Belgium, one of the main producers in Europe, is expected to see an 8% drop in production.

The outlook is complicated by the conflict in the Middle East, which is preventing access to the Persian Gulf, a key export market for frozen potatoes from the EU.

Tags: EU, sown area, potato