Preliminary figures on the ware potato area in Flanders and Wallonia show a small plus in the cultivation area. Where does the acreage end up and why is the acreage growing while grain prices are so high?
The Test Center for Potato Cultivation in Flanders (PCA) already produced the first one in mid-April estimate about the consumption potato area, based on information provided by 127 Flemish growers. This data amounted to 50.000 hectares – an increase of 2% on last year.
Wallonia 2,7% more potatoes
We can now also make an initial assessment in Wallonia. Farmers can already submit area data there for the Common Agricultural Policy. Until yesterday (May 31) it was possible to make changes. A total of 40.799 hectares of ware potatoes and 1.099 hectares of seed potatoes have been registered for the PAC declarations (the Walloon Combined Declaration). This is reported by the potato organization Fiwap, which relies on data from the Walloon Ministry of Agriculture. This means 2,7% more potatoes for consumption in the French-speaking part of Belgium. The plus for the seed potato area is 6,5%.
If you add both estimates, you are talking about 90.799 hectares of ware potatoes. This brings the total Belgian consumption area back above 90.000, where it fell below in 2021 for the first time since 2016. Compared to the five-year average, the area is still 3% smaller this season.
Area EU-5 stable
The growth - of almost 1.100 hectares - is certainly not a major shift, but it does show how the area in the EU-5 is moving differently than previously thought. Germany also recently presented a plus. From the end of last year, insiders expected a contraction in the EU-5 of 5% to even 10%. It is now clear that there is no question of a decline - prompted by significantly higher cultivation costs, good grain prices and pressure on returns - in Northwestern Europe. Poland is the only exception to this.
Provisional figures are expected from Flanders at the beginning of this month, based on the CAP declaration. They must verify the PCA figures. A decrease was expected in Flanders in particular because rental land is less available this season. The European potato trade organization Europatat also takes the stabilization of the European area into account. This week her conference took place in Dublin. During the conference it was mentioned that fewer table and starch potatoes are probably being grown and that the area of chip potatoes is actually growing. The figure for consumption potatoes alone does not say everything. The chip potato cultivation can also grow if stabilized.
Processing requirement not met
What does stabilization mean for the European potato market? In 2021, the area decreased by 5% in the EU-4. Even with growth in Germany, Belgium and France, this reduction of 28.000 hectares has not been quickly restored. This is despite the fact that the processing capacity has grown. Factories need more potatoes, not fewer, and as far as they're concerned, stabilization means going backwards. Processing and global exports remain very good, supported by strong demand for fries. A significantly higher chip price does not deter buyers either.