EU. Potato areas have increased more than predicted

This year, the potato area in France, Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium has increased significantly more than predicted in the spring. According to preliminary data from industry associations and statistical offices, the increase could reach around 50 thousand hectares instead of the expected 25 thousand hectares.

This is reported by Boerderij with reference to the North-West European Potato Producers Federation (NEPG).

In Germany, the total area under potatoes in 2025 will be 301 thousand hectares, which is 19 thousand hectares (6.7%) more than last year. At the same time, the area under starch potatoes is decreasing, so the growth of the consumer segment is even greater. In France, the area under potatoes has increased by 10.3–13% (18.5–24 thousand hectares) depending on the data source.

In Belgium, according to Belgapom, plantings increased by 7.4% to a record 111.4 thousand hectares, of which almost 108 thousand hectares are for ware potatoes. This is 7.5 thousand hectares more than in 2024. In the Netherlands, 83.1 thousand hectares of ware potatoes are being grown this season, which is 6.6 thousand hectares (8.6%) more than last year.

NEPG will update the official figures in September at the Potato Europe exhibition, but it is already clear that the expansion has occurred much earlier than predicted for 2035. Overproduction could lead to marketing problems, and some of the crop is already being sent to biogas plants or animal feed.

Tags: EU, potato