Belgian potato growers are breaking the old yield record of 3,7 million tons of storage potatoes this season with ease. This is partly due to the ever-growing potato area. The consequences for sales are enormous. Where does the new record come from?
The Belgian Federal Public Service Economy (FPS) published new acreage figures for arable crops in Belgium on October 12. The total potato area is 92.756 hectares. That is an increase of 4% compared to 2016, when the area was more than 89.000 hectares. At 6%, growth in Wallonia is stronger than in Flanders, where cultivation increased by 2,4%.
Smallest growth in storage potatoes
All segments: early cultivation, storage potatoes and seed potatoes, show growth. Potatoes for storage have the smallest growth at 3,7%. For seed potatoes this is 3,8% and for early potatoes 6%. The differences are greater per region. For example, the Flemish area of seed potatoes increased by no less than 17%, while in the French-speaking part of the country there was a decline of 14%. There, the area of early potatoes increased enormously, by over 42%.
Record amply broken
The area of storage potatoes is divided into 40.887 hectares for Flanders and 39.604 hectares for Wallonia. The average yield of French fries potatoes this year is good to very good. Some table potato varieties perform lower. However, the average for the main harvest is expected to be 52 tons per hectare. Same as 2014. The area is only 10.000 hectares larger.
About 3 years ago, 3,7 million tons of storage potatoes were harvested. This season, that record will be more than broken with 4,2 million tons, 1,2 million tons more than last year and half a million tons more than in 2014. Including early and seed potatoes, the total harvest may amount to 5 million tons.
The Belgian government figures are slightly below Numbers of the NEPG. Their latest forecast took into account 96.281 hectares, excluding starch and seed potatoes. That's a difference of almost 6.000 hectares. The organization itself assumed 5,4% growth.
Grains are in sharp decline
A similar crop shift is noticeable in our southern neighbors as in the Netherlands. The grain area has decreased by more than 9%. The cultivation of sugar beets increased by 12,4%. That of chicory is also increasing. It is only the grain crops and rapeseed that show a minus. All other products have increased in area.
Space for new expansion
The increase in acreage, in combination with a top harvest, is putting the market under heavy pressure. The question is therefore whether Belgium will again focus on more potatoes in 2018.
Theoretically, that growth opportunity is there. There are opportunities, especially in Wallonia. About 27% of the arable area is occupied by grain and rapeseed. In Flanders that share is 20%. The extensive construction plans therefore offer more space for potato cultivation in Wallonia, which is clearly noticeable in the growth rates.