To meet all the plans, French potato cultivation must grow by almost 5% annually. This can be achieved in yield, but in practice it must mainly come from the area. Five companies have built a new factory in Northern France, or have plans to do so. This makes the Hauts-de-France region the 'potato valley' of France, as they call it themselves.
The French government agency is assuming 178.000 hectares of consumption potatoes this year. That is a growth of 24.000 hectares, or 15,6%. This enormous growth can be questioned. Growers' organization UNPT and processing organization GIPT are assuming 170.000 hectares of consumption potatoes.
Record Revenue
The Ministry of Agriculture is counting on a yield per hectare of 42,3 tonnes. This yields 7,54 million tonnes of potatoes in theory. Last year, 6,71 million tonnes were harvested (43,6 tonnes per hectare). An increase of 12,3%. If this becomes reality, it will be a record yield that will easily exceed the old record of last year.
The French potato sector needs such records to meet all ambitions. Up to and including 2030, the area must increase by 40.000 hectares to keep all lines running. Clarebout has now got its factory in Bourbourg, near Dunkirk, up and running. McCain is implementing major updates and expansions, and Ecofrost and Agristo have previously announced plans to build new factories.
Growth in the North
The cultivation of French fries potatoes, like the processing, is clustered in the north of France. Mainly in the Hauts-de-France area. This year, 108.400 hectares of potatoes are growing there (good for 4,3 million tonnes). Nord-pas-de-Calais is good for almost 60.000 hectares and Picardy for 49.500 hectares. This concerns consumption, seed potatoes and starch, although the latter has shrunk this year. The table potato area is also affected by the expanding cultivation of French fries potatoes.
Good soil, few stones, large plots and spacious construction plans are an ideal mix that the northern arable areas can offer potato growers. In addition, irrigation is also possible in many places, which is now a requirement. This season, the French colleagues have come through better than colleagues in Belgium or the south of the Netherlands, which means that the crops are doing reasonably well to well.
Own fries first
For years, France has watched as some of its potatoes disappeared across the border to Belgium to be processed there. There are 22 French fry factories in France, but the four largest are surprisingly good for 80% of production. In total, 600.000 tons of potato products are produced annually, three quarters of which are frozen fries, according to figures from GIPT. In neighbouring Belgium, 16 factories are now active, which together produce 2,8 million tons of fries.
France is currently a net importer of French fries. 77% of all consumed 'pommes frites' are of French origin. Of course, the industry wants to increase that figure considerably in its own country, which means that there is still some growth possible. In addition, it also wants to have a bigger say in the world market. According to GIPT, 4,7% growth on an annual basis should be possible.
Belgium is also growing
Neighbouring country Belgium is also showing an area increase this year, although it is a more modest 5.200 hectares. Good for 5,4% growth compared to 2023. This brings the area well above 100.000 hectares. According to official figures, 12,4% more potatoes were harvested last year, good for 3,73 million tonnes. This is remarkable, given the disastrous harvest. The yield figure amounts to 42,8 tonnes per hectare. If you calculate this for this year, the potential yield comes to 4,35 million tonnes. Given the very disappointing regrowth in the main harvest, which was planted very late, there is a good chance that the yield could be disappointing. Potatoes from France are therefore still essential for the Belgian industry this processing season.