The potato area in Germany will increase even further this year than previously expected. At least that is evident from new official figures. The shift in species is striking. There is significantly less interest in starch potatoes.
When you talk about growth in the cultivation of chip potatoes in Europe, the story usually turns to Belgium and (Northern) France. Many processors have established themselves there in recent decades and the cultivation of potato chips has logically increased significantly.
Area is growing significantly
Germany is a country that is usually not mentioned so quickly, despite the fact that it is the largest potato country within the EU-4. This shadow role may change when you consider the movement of the potato area. It has been a long time coming that it will grow this year known, but the increase is much greater than previously thought. New figures from the statistics service Destatis show this.
Destatis will come up with a total area of 289.200 hectares at the beginning of August. That is an increase of 24.500 hectares (9,25%) compared to last year. This is the largest area since 2004 and the largest increase in recent history.
Lower Saxony is expanding significantly
Destatis has also announced the figures per state. Lower Saxony, which showed a slight decline last year, is now making a very strong comeback of no less than 19.300 hectares (16%). North Rhine-Westphalia – number two on the list – is growing by 4.200 hectares (10%). Number three: Bavaria, is the only federal state to shrink by 2.800 hectares (7,25%). These three states together represent three-quarters of all potatoes in the country.
Unfortunately, the statistics service does not reveal the distribution between the segments. Insiders can make that assessment. Lower prices for grains and corn, among other things, coupled with good demand for potatoes certainly have a positive effect, but potato growers are also shifting in segments. The acreage of starch potatoes in particular will suffer.
Shrinkage in starch potatoes
This shift is not a big surprise. The area has been declining for three years in a row. In 2023, starch potatoes were grown on 55.930 hectares, according to figures from the Federal Association of German Stärkekartoffelerzeuger (BDS). That was the smallest area in seven years. A fifth of all German potatoes are therefore starch potatoes, although that proportion will probably continue to decrease.
The greatest growth is noticeable in chip potatoes, especially in Lower Saxony. What has mainly inhibited growth is the availability of the right varieties. That is why - according to insiders - table potato cultivation has also increased because a better availability of varieties was noticeable.
More own seed potatoes
As in other European countries, the cultivation of seed potatoes is also in season grown, by 9% to 18.380 hectares. Starting material of the Fontane variety is one of the strong growers, which makes it clear that the Germans would like to be more independent of the seed potato supply from the Netherlands. This season, our eastern neighbors received 99.556 tons of seed potatoes, according to figures from the NAO. That is 21.847 tons (18%) less than the previous season. This makes it the big loser in the list of major buyers last season.
The planting season in Germany went slightly smoother than in countries further along the coast, although it was wet here too. As a result, planting took place slightly later. However, the start can certainly not be called disastrous. Things are different in Bavaria. Many potato plots there were flooded due to heavy rainfall earlier this year. Insiders assume several thousand hectares of damage, which means that the shrinkage in area for this state is even greater than the figures suggest.
Insiders therefore expect that the market will be plagued by an oversupply of potatoes, especially around harvest time. This is especially noticeable in Northern Germany.