Europe: Industrial potato harvest could fall below 40 million tonnes.

In Europe, the industrial potato harvest could fall below 40 million tonnes in 2026 due to reduced plantings, heat and drought, while tighter supply and rising exports are already pushing processing potato prices higher.

The European industrial potato sector is facing tighter supply for the 2026/27 season due to reduced plantings, heat waves and drought conditions in key producing regions. World Potato Markets projects that the 2026 harvest could fall below 40 million tonnes for the first time, around 15 million tonnes less than last year. The expected decline comes after the oversupply recorded during the 2025/26 season. Ahead of the new season, plantings were reduced in an effort to rebalance the market. Germany, France, the Netherlands, Belgium and Poland recorded year-on-year declines in planted area. In addition, five recent heat waves and subsequent drought conditions could further limit harvest volumes. The tighter supply outlook coincides with an increase in European exports of processed potato products to several markets. According to Trade Data Monitor, EU processed potato exports to South America grew 45.1% year-on-year in June, led by Brazil, Colombia and Chile. Shipments to the Middle ...