French potato harvest 19,5 percent higher

According to the most recent figures from the government's agricultural statistics agency, Agreste, the total harvest of early and storage potatoes in France ended 19,5% higher than in 2016. Compared to the 5-year average, this is a plus of 17,9% . This growth brings the main harvest to a new record. In 2014 the volume was 6,21 million tons. Slightly below the expected result for this year.

Acreage to new heights
The latest French figures, published on October 12, amount to 140.000 hectares for early potatoes and storage potatoes (main harvest). That is also a record, an increase of 10.000 hectares compared to last year. The area of ​​starch potatoes decreases slightly, to 22.000 hectares. In the previous forecast, Agreste assumed 135.000 hectares of potatoes.

With an average yield level of 44,56 tons per hectare, considerably more will be harvested this year. Last year the average yield was 40 tons per hectare. This brings the harvest this year to an estimated 6,22 million tons of ware potatoes. That is a plus of more than 1 million tons, or 19,5%.

Yield not great
Since 2012, the area of ​​ware potatoes has grown by approximately 30.000 hectares. The yield increases on average, but fluctuations are sometimes large. Last season's 40 tons was extremely low. This year's 44,5 tons is average. In 2014 and 2011 the yield was closer to 50 tons per hectare.

Growth in potato volume is mainly due to the expanding acreage. Not because of the significantly higher yield. In 2014, with 15.000 fewer hectares, almost the same amount was harvested.

More pressure on the potato market
The increase of 1,017 million tons of potatoes, in combination with the 500.000 tons of additional yield in Belgium, further increases the pressure on the market. This tempers price developments in the market. Any lower harvest in the Netherlands, Germany and Poland, as a result of the wet weather, will be compensated.