The Northwestern European Potato Growers' Association (NEPG) is confronting potato growers with the question of whether they are willing to continue producing at a loss. According to the NEPG, there are currently no signs that the problems in the potato market will be resolved in the near future.
Free purchase prices are dramatically low, ranging from €0,50 to €4 per 100 kilos, the NEPG emphasizes. Moreover, processors have already clearly announced that both contract prices and contracted volumes will be reduced for the 2026/27 season. "Market forces are ruthless, and only the strongest will survive," the NEPG concludes.
In this context, the producer organization poses the question to potato growers: "Can you afford to lose a lot of money while producing potatoes on the same scale?" Without waiting for an answer, the organization urges growers to carefully consider the economics of continuing to grow potatoes on the same scale with such high annual lease costs.
10% increase
The NEPG estimates the table potato harvest in the Netherlands, Belgium, France, and Germany at 27,2 million tons in 2025. This represents a 10% increase compared to 2024. This increase is the result of an early start to planting, a 7% increase in acreage, and 5% higher yields. Rainfall was generally sufficient, although there were significant differences between the north and south.
Moreover, the large harvest is arriving in a market facing significant challenges. Demand for European frozen fries has plummeted due to a combination of import tariffs in the United States, a strong euro, and increased exports from China, India, and Egypt.