When the market says stop, every hectare of potatoes must be carefully selected. This is what the French potato growers' organization UNPT is saying in the run-up to the 2026 season.
The 2025 season is a clear warning of the market imbalances that will arise if production grows faster than demand. With nearly 8,5 million tons of harvested storage potatoes (+13%) on 197.000 hectares (+15%), the sector has achieved record production.
The UNPT would like to recall that in the run-up to the 2025 season, the risk of area growth was highlighted. This did not prevent the market from turning in the spring; sales of finished products in major export markets declined, while the forecast predicted significantly higher European production.
The effect was clear right from the start of the new harvest: weak demand from producers outside of contracts, volumes that were harder to sell, and a drop in the market price to €0,50 to €1,50 per 100 kilos. The lack of demand for free potatoes and the very low prices have had dramatic consequences for growers, according to the UNPT.
The growers' organization warns that there's no prospect of recovery in the European market for the time being. This applies to both French fry and table potatoes. The market can't absorb the additional tons, and it doesn't look like it will by 2026. "It's not production that's lacking, but market opportunities."
Risky cultivation
Preparing for the 2026 season therefore requires careful consideration, UNPT emphasizes. The organization doesn't mean to suggest that growers should simply abandon cultivation, but rather that it's important to consider the fact that it's a risky and capital-intensive crop whose profitability depends on the market.
It also points out that a hectare of potatoes already costs thousands of euros before the first ton is harvested. Costs that continue to rise every year. "Without a truly solid and honored contract, without a secure market in terms of volume and price, without a controlled storage strategy, and without a robust cash flow, these extra hectares can quickly become a source of economic collapse for the company. The freedom to produce should not be confused with the freedom to jeopardize one's own livelihood."