The potato season in the United States often mirrors that of Western Europe. Due to a smaller acreage, yields will not change significantly this year, ensuring a good balance between supply and demand. Competition in both the domestic and export markets remains fierce.
In the US, 366.612 hectares of potatoes were planted this year, a reduction of almost 7.900 hectares. Since the start of the new season, processors in North America have clearly focused on lower volumes to better match supply and demand. This is partly against the wishes of growers, who preferred to plant the same acreage or even more. Across the pond, arable farmers are also struggling with a lack of alternatives within their cropping plans.
Excellent growing season
The growing season in the US has been excellent so far. With a few exceptions, planting was early and the crops were able to develop well. The summer months have also been positive for potato production. Insiders expect a yield per hectare in line with the long-term average of 51,89 tons per hectare. That's 1,23 tons more than last year's harvest.
Converted, the total US potato volume at this yield comes to 19,04 million tons. This is close to the 19,06 million tons harvested in 2024. It's only 0,2% higher than the five-year average. This demonstrates once again how predictable the US potato harvest can be, making planning much easier for processors in North America.
More Canadian potatoes
The situation is very similar in Canada. Growers there planted 159.530 hectares of potatoes this year. This is almost the same as in 2024. The harvested area ultimately ended up 3.330 hectares lower, which explains the difference in the graph. Yield figures for Canada are not yet available. If we assume the five-year average and a harvestable area 2% smaller than the planted area, the result is 5,6 million tons. Slightly less than the 5,75 million tons harvested last year.
There's still a considerable margin of uncertainty here. If frost sets in early, significant areas could be lost. The final figure may therefore differ from the current estimate, which is based on an average.
Across North America, the acreage is expected to be 1,4% lower, the smallest in five years. The final harvest is unlikely to differ much from last year. More potatoes are being harvested in the US, slightly less in Canada. Idaho, the potato state, is expected to have a 4,5% increase in potatoes because the acreage there has not changed. In Washington, the number two, a significantly smaller volume is expected at this time, with a 9% decline. This is entirely due to a 6.000 hectare reduction in potatoes.
Higher Yields
Both states are expected to achieve good yields thanks to an excellent growing season. In Idaho, growers are just starting the potato harvest. According to the USDA Crop Progress report, 95% of US potato crops are in good to excellent condition. Because older potatoes were used longer, the new crop had more growing days. This has resulted in higher yields of early potatoes, according to trial harvest data in the US. Older potatoes are still being processed.
Inventory figures in cold stores and freezers show that slightly more stockpiles were built up in June. Exports of North American French fries have been under pressure for some time now due to the significant dominance of Europe. In recent years, countries such as India, China, and Egypt have joined this group. At the same time, European exporters have gained a foothold in the US. This makes it more challenging for Americans and Canadians to sell all their potato products. On the other hand, North American consumers still love French fries. Competition will remain fierce in both the domestic and export markets next season.