According to the German Statistical Office Destatis, the shrinkage in the German potato acreage is greater than previously expected. In mid-May, Destatis still assumed a contraction of approximately 2%, but that estimate appears to be quite on the low side.
Today (Tuesday, August 3) Destatis published the provisional area figures shows that the total potato area in Germany this year amounts to 259.300 hectares. A year earlier, this was still 273.500 hectares, or a shrinkage of more than 5%. This brings the area close to that of 2018, when 252.200 hectares of potatoes were grown.
Major differences between the Federal Countries
Lower Saxony remains the most important growing area. With 115.400 hectares, this Federal State accounts for almost 45% of the German potato area. The shrinkage in this region is just above average at almost 6%. The strongest area shrinkage is in Saxony-Anhalt, at 11%. The total area there is 13.700 hectares, just slightly more than in 2017. Against the trend, the area in North Rhine-Westphalia has actually grown to 38.100 hectares. That is an increase of 1.400 hectares or approximately 4%.
Instead of potatoes, German farmers have sown more wheat. The area has grown by 4% to 2.948.000 hectares, making it by far the largest crop. The rapeseed area has also increased by 5% to 1.000.100 hectares.