The final statistics for the German potato area in 2017 show a significant increase compared to previous years. This brings the total area to the highest level since 2011.
The German statistics agency Destatis has announced the final acreage figures for potatoes. This amounts to 2017 hectares for 250.500, an increase of more than 8.000 hectares compared to 2016. Compared to the last estimate, 2.100 hectares have been added to the final estimate. This means that the total potato area of 2017 is the largest since 2011.
Starch potatoes
Since 2015, the German statistical service no longer makes a distinction between table and chip potatoes. It is therefore difficult to write about the individual product groups. Starch potatoes are described separately. This area decreased by 3% last year, to more than 53.000 hectares. Excluding starch and seed potatoes, 180.000 hectares of ware potatoes remain.
The item starch potatoes distorts the picture of the German acreage figures. If we filter this out of the figures, the area of consumption potatoes is even at its highest point since 2000. This has to do with the fact that more and more starch potatoes have been replaced and that the vacated area has been filled with consumption potatoes. This trend has been visible for 20 years. In 2000, the consumption area was 3.000 hectares more than in 2017.
Area distribution
The state of Lower Saxony is undisputedly the largest potato growing area; with a share of 112.300 hectares. This means it accounts for more than half of the national area growth. In North Rhine-Westphalia the area is 31.100 hectares and there was a small increase. Bavaria has the second largest area with almost 42.000 hectares, but recorded a decrease of 1 hectares and 1.500 other states all showed an increase in the potato area.