Despite the changing growing conditions, Polish potato growers are harvesting a much larger potato harvest this year. This is partly due to an increased area in the country. Yields and quality vary greatly. These are influenced by the weather conditions.
Poland, like other Central European countries, has had a slightly different season than the EU-4 countries. Spring started very early, warm and dry. As a result, most potatoes were able to go into the ground on time. Especially in the south and centre of Poland. The total area has increased this year, from 182.650 to 200.000 hectares.
It is mainly the processing industry that is chasing more hectares of potatoes. In the chip industry, this is somewhat more stable. Some factories are struggling with faltering sales that are certainly not increasing. Poland is also one of the few European countries where the cultivation of starch potatoes is growing again, with the help of state support.
Whimsical season
The growing season was erratic in Poland. Long dry and warm periods alternated with sometimes heavy precipitation. As a result, the yields per hectare vary greatly, according to the Polish potato organization. The yields achieved so far range from 20 to 60 tons per hectare, with major differences in whether or not irrigation was used. The regrowth has generally been disappointing due to drought and high temperatures in August.
The potato organisation assumes a total harvest of 6,7 million tonnes. That is 20% more than the 5,6 million tonnes harvested last year. However, the yield is still below the five-year average of 6,95 million tonnes. Between 2021 and 2023, the area decreased significantly due to increased cultivation costs, higher risks and alternatives such as more profitable grain and rapeseed cultivation. These markets have now calmed down, which is why arable farmers are increasingly turning to potatoes.
More fries potatoes
The research institute ERiGŻ PIB assumes that the total volume includes around 1,93 million tonnes of industrial potatoes. This concerns almost 640.000 tonnes of starch potatoes, which is almost the same as last year. The biggest increase can be seen in French fry potatoes, which according to official figures increased by 12,5% to 520.000 tonnes. This is the largest volume since the 2017 harvest year, which is mainly due to an increased area.
Interruption
The potato organisation is still keeping its options open regarding this yield. This has everything to do with the varying yields. Despite the fact that the harvest started early and smoothly, the main harvest of (fry) potatoes is still far from being in. Poland is also struggling with a weather disruption this week. Heavy showers are hitting the western part of the country, sometimes bringing large amounts of water. At the same time, temperatures are dropping to minimums below ten degrees.
Poland does not have a French fry potato quotation, but it does have various regional market quotations for table potatoes. These have recovered somewhat towards mid-September due to reports of disappointing yields. The prices for sorted and bagged potatoes are between 1.000 and 2.000 zloty per tonne in mid-September. That is the equivalent of €233 to €465 per tonne. This price level is almost equal to the five-year average, but it is considerably less than was paid last year.